Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton has had an injury riddled career. This season especially has been one that’s frustrating for the 34-year-old. Hamilton started this season rehabbing from a shoulder surgery and fighting with Los Angeles Angels management. He also had a drug relapse. He found himself traded back to the Texas Rangers where he got hurt again with groin and hamstring injuries and now finds himself dealing with another injury.
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Hamilton has had two surgeries on each knee and still deals with soreness in both of them. Now he finds himself dealing with more soreness in his left knee to the point where he now has to get an MRI.
"“I’m not sure,” Hamilton said Thursday when asked if he was concerned. “This feels a little more uncomfortable than usual. I’m not sure if it’s worse.”"
Hamilton has only played in 36 games this season, posting a .252/.299/.415 line with five homers and 19 RBI. Over the past two seasons combined, he’s only played in 125 games after playing over 120 every year for the past four seasons.
The Rangers will have Hamilton on the cheap for the next two seasons though. They will pay him just $4 million of the $56.8 million left, although Hamilton can opt out of his deal after next season.
Hamilton missed the past two Rangers games in dealing with the injury, but since July 26 has seen his batting average rise almost 20 points. In his last 20 games, he’s posted a .272 average with a .726 OPS
For Hamilton and the Rangers, it may be best to shut it down for the season to give him a chance to fully recover if needed. The Rangers find themselves three games out of a Wild Card.
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