Update on Texas Rangers OF Josh Hamilton

Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, who has been sidelined since injuring his left side in a collision with the outfield wall on September 4 at Minnesota, was examined by Dr. Robert Watkins in Los Angeles on both Monday and Tuesday.

Hamilton received CT scans on both Monday and Tuesday and a spec scan on Monday. Based on the tests and his examination, Dr. Watkins diagnosed a small stable fracture in Hamilton’s 7th and 8th ribs that previous tests (2 x-rays and an MRI) had not picked up.

Dr. Watkins gave Hamilton an anti-inflammatory injection at the site of the discomfort, and an epidural nerve-block injection for pain management. It is typically 48-72 hours before it will be known whether this treatment will have the desired effect. Once the discomfort recedes to a point where Hamilton is comfortable, he can return to baseball activities.

Tonight will be the 15th consecutive game Hamilton has missed. He is batting a major league leading .361 with 31 homers and 97 RBI in 130 games with Texas in 2010.