Hamilton Goes On DL

An injured left knee will force Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton to the disabled list for the start of the 2016 season.

Hamilton is expected to be out for two months while recovering and working his way back. The five-time All-Star had swelling in the knee and received a stem cell and platelet rich plasma injection on Monday after he saw Dr. James Andrews.

Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine hopes Hamilton will be able to start a minor league rehabilitation stint in late April and return to the Rangers in early May.

“Obviously, it’s frustrating and disappointing,” Hamilton said. “As an athlete, you don’t want to be pushed back and wait and have a drawn-out time period to get back. That stinks. At the same time, I really felt like it was something that needed to be done now.”

Hamilton’s knee started to swell after he reported to spring training last week. The pain was coming from an inflamed capsule behind the knee. He had surgery twice on the same knee last year before returning in September for the end of the regular season and the playoffs.

“The reason we are giving him an eight-week program is so we don’t cut any corners and give him a full spring training,” Levine said.

The 34-year-old Hamilton batted .253 with eight home runs in 50 games for the

Rangers last season. Injuries have resulted in 11 trips to the disabled list during his career.

“This is something different that I haven’t tried yet,” Hamilton said said of the injection. “This was the next step to go. We’ve exhausted things. If this makes it 50 percent better, I’ll be good to go. Everybody I’ve talked to who’ve said they had any kind of stem-cell stuff said they’ve had good results from them, so that’s positive and encouraging.

“It will never be right, but I just want to get better. That’s the simplistic way to put it. There’s always that fear there that it might not work.”

Hamilton’s replacement in left field until he returns is likely to be Joey Gallo, Nomar Mazara, Lewis Brinson or Ryan Rua, the 2015 starter in left on opening day who was injured in the first game and placed on the 60-day disabled list.

Share and Enjoy !

Shares