Hamilton Returns To Rangers
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Arlington, Texas–The Texas Rangers announced Monday that the club has acquired outfielder Josh Hamilton from the Los Angeles Angels in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations. As part of the transaction, the Rangers will also receive cash considerations from the Angels.
The 34-year-old Hamilton remains on the 15-day disabled list as he continues to undergo rehab from right shoulder surgery on February 3. Hamilton’s AC joint was repaired during the surgery performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington. He is expected to report to the Rangers extended spring program in Surprise, Arizona in the next few days.
To make room for Hamilton on the 40-man roster, the Rangers have transferred right-handed pitcher Nick Tepesch from the 15 to the 60-day disabled list.
The left-handed batter was in his third season in the Angels organization after signing a five-year free agent contract with Los Angeles on December 15, 2012. In 2014 he hit .263 with 10 homers and 44 RBI in 89 games while being sidelined from April 9-June 3 with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb. Hamilton batted .329 in his final 45 regular season games beginning August 9, ending the year with a 14-game hitting streak.
In five seasons with Texas from 2008-12, Hamilton batted .305 with 142 home runs and
506 RBI in 647 games. He has the third highest slugging percentage (.549) and sixth best batting average in club history among players with at least 300 games while producing three seasons each of 30+ homers and 100+ RBI.
Acquired from Cincinnati in December 2007, Hamilton hit .304 with 35 homers and an A.L. best 130 RBI in his first season as a Ranger. After being limited to 89 games due to injuries in 2009, he was the 2010 American League Most Valuable Player after leading the majors in batting average (club record .359), slugging (.633), and OPS (1.044) to go along with 32 homers and 100 RBI in just 133 games. Hamilton hit .350 with four homers and seven RBI in the Rangers’ 6-game ALCS victory over New York to earn series MVP honors.
He had 25 homers and 94 RBI in 2011 while missing 33 games due injury before tying for second in the A.L. with a career best 43 homers to go along with 103 runs and 128 RBI (2nd in A.L.) in 2012. He was elected to start in the All-Star Game in all five seasons as a Ranger and won A.L. Silver Slugger Awards in 2008, 2010, and 2012. The two-time Rangers Player of the Year (2008 and 2010) became just the 16th player in major league history to hit four home runs in one game on May 8, 2012 at Baltimore.
Overall, Hamilton has a .292 (1091-3739) average with 192 homers and 676 RBI in 977 major league games with the Reds (2007), Rangers (2008-12), and Angels (2013-14).
Tepesch had his option of March 30 to Triple-A Round Rock voided on April 21 as he was then placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to March 30, with right elbow inflammation.
