With the Texas Rangers less than one month away from reporting to spring training, outfielder Josh Hamilton is still dealing with lingering knee problems.
According to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Hamilton said at an awards dinner Friday night that the left knee he had surgery on in October is still “bothersome” even though he was able to swing a bat after receiving a cortisone shot.
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In November, per Stefan Stevenson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels announced Hamilton required a second surgery on his left knee to clean up lingering problems after he suffered a torn meniscus in September.
While not exactly bragging about his health at this moment, Hamilton did tell Wilson he’s slowly starting to feel better.
“I’ve just been fighting back and forth with it, just pushing through the rehab,” he said. “He put some cortisone in there, and I tell you what, man, to wake up this morning and put my shoe on without any pain was a wonderful thing. Everything else feels good.”
Wilson added that Hamilton anticipates going through a full spring training this year after missing it last year with the Los Angeles Angels following shoulder surgery.
Injuries have defined Hamilton’s career, even when he won an MVP award in 2010. He’s reached the 140-game barrier only three times in nine seasons and has played a total of 139 games since 2014.
The Rangers have amassed plenty of outfield depth, with Joey Gallo able to play left field and platoon outfielder Justin Ruggiano signed in the offseason, so they don’t have to depend on Hamilton’s bat to succeed.
A healthy Hamilton can be a difference-maker with 30-homer potential, but at 34 years old and with his long injury history, the Rangers would be happy if he was able to play adequately over the course of a full season.
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