Rangers OF Hamilton to return Monday
July 6, 2009
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)—Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton(notes) will be reinstated fromthe 15-day disabled list Monday, in time to return to Texas’ lineup for theteam’s game against the Los Angeles Angels.
To make room for Hamilton, the Rangers will send struggling first basemanChris Davis(notes) to Triple-A Oklahoma City to get his swing untracked. Davis isbatting .202 and leads the majors with 114 strikeouts.
Hamilton, selected for his second All-Star game on Sunday, has completed hisrecovery from abdominal surgery. He played a doubleheader with Triple-A OklahomaCity on Sunday in a minor league rehab assignment, going 2 for 7 in the twogames, including a triple, double and stolen base.
“It’s time for Josh to get back here and start doing something for us,”manager Ron Washington said.
Hamilton went 4 for 27 in six minor league games, including one withDouble-A Frisco. He was aiming to rejoin the Rangers on Saturday or Sunday, butthe club wanted him to play in another game in the outfield, which Hamilton didin the opener of the doubleheader. Hamilton was the DH in the second game.
Hamilton went on the disabled list June 2 and had abdominal surgery a weeklater. He was injured when he smacked into an outfield wall while making a catchon May 17. That came less than a week after coming off an earlier stay on the DLdue to a strained ribcage muscle from another collision with an outfield wall onanother catch.
Hamilton, who hit .304 with 32 homers and an AL-high 130 RBIs last season,is batting .240 with six homers and 24 RBIs in 35 games this season. EarlierSunday, he learned he’ll make his second All-Star appearance.
In his first All-Star trip last year, Hamilton hit a record 28 homers in thefirst round of the Home Run Derby at Yankee Stadium, including 13 in a row.Hamilton was voted in as a starter this year and said he’d play if he’s healthy.He won’t participate in the Home Run Derby, however, honoring a request byWashington.
Hamilton said his health is good.
“The physical part of the rehab is good,” Hamilton said in a conferencecall from Oklahoma City. “I’m trying to do some things with my swing to getback on track. If I wasn’t making progress every day, I’d be worried, but it’sgoing good.”
Washington said the injury is no longer an issue, but Hamilton might take alittle while to regain his timing at the plate.
“He’s fully recovered,” Washington said. “He’s not hurt anymore. He’sjust trying to get (his game) back together.”
The Rangers hope Davis can regain the swing that produced 17 homers and 55RBIs in 80 games as a rookie last season. He has 15 homers and 33 RBIs thisseason.
“Chris needs to get down there and get things together a little bit,”Washington said. “More than anything else, it was Chris’ interest we werethinking about. He needs to get to a less-pressure environment and get it backtogether. We know what he’s capable of doing and as soon as he gets thingstogether, we’ll get him back here.”
Hank Blalock(notes), Texas’ DH in 47 games this season, will take over at firstbase.
“When you’re hitting .200 and leading the league in strikeouts, it’s kindof hard to say it caught you off guard,” Davis said. “I really appreciate howlong they stuck with me. I think they stuck with me more than they really hadto.
“I think it’s one thing after another—mechanics, mental—whatever it maybe, we’ve made a lot of adjustments with the mental approach. What I’m doing’snot working and we’re going to find out what that is and try to assess theproblem.”
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