ARLINGTON, Texas — Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton has taken another step in his eventual return to the majors after beginning a rehab stint in the minors. Hamilton went 1-for-3 with a single and two strikeouts Sunday for the Triple-A Round Rock Express.
No specific timetable has been set regarding Hamilton’s stay with Round Rock, though it’s expected to last at least a week.
“I could find it as early as tomorrow or a week from now,” he said. “And that’s what the fun and frustrating part of the game is. Any given year you can come to spring training and feel really good right off the bat. Then there’s some other years it takes a little longer.”
Hamilton is just happy to be back in an organization where he experienced his greatest triumphs after two miserable years with the Los Angeles Angels.
“It’s really a small miracle that I got back here because it was a whole, big, long, ugly process,” he said. “I feel like the Lord had his hand on it to get me back here. I feel like I’m in the place I’m supposed to be in now.”
Hamilton attributed much of his success in Texas to a support structure that was in place, but missing in Anaheim.
“That was a big deal,” he said. “Obviously, I take full responsibility for allowing that to dissipate and change over the years. That was one of the things over these last couple months — to realize ‘OK, when have I been successful? And when has my mind been right and I’d go out and play the best I can play? Who’s been around me? What people were they?’”