Below the neck Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton has all of the talent to be one of the best players in Major League Baseball. But Hamilton’s biggest problems exist above the neck. Hamilton recently had another drug and alcohol relapse that has cast some doubt for his availability for the upcoming MLB season. MLB and the Angels front office expected Hamilton to be suspended. But an arbitrator recently ruled that Hamilton cannot face any discipline on the matter which has left MLB and the Angels perplexed while also casting another dark shadow over the former American League MVP.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays made Hamilton the first overall pick of the 1999 Major League Baseball Draft. Hamilton was only 18-years old when he was drafted by the Rays and he was expected to be a player that the team would build around. While in the Rays minor league system, Hamilton got involved in using drugs and alcohol which side tracked his promising career. And by 2006, the Rays had given up on Hamilton who was claimed in the Rule 5 Draft by the Chicago Cubs. Hamilton was only with the Cubs for a cup of coffee as he was soon traded to the Cincinnati Reds where he would finally get a shot at the big leagues.
With the Reds in 2007, Hamilton would hit 19 home runs along with 47 runs batted in. After the season the Reds would trade Hamilton to the Texas Rangers and in 2008, he would become the feel good story of the Major League Baseball.
In 2008, Hamilton would hit 32 home runs along with 130 runs batted in. And at that year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Hamilton would hit 28 home runs in the first round of the Home Run Derby which brought the folks at Yankee Stadium to their feet.
In 2010, Hamilton would have a .359 batting average along with hitting 32 homers and 100 run batted in. That year the Rangers would make their first appearance in the World Series while Hamilton was named the American League’s MVP. Hamilton hit 43 home runs in 2012 and he was once again in the running to win the AL MVP, but he struggled down the stretch that season and he became the poster boy for the Rangers struggles as they were eliminated in the AL Wild Card Game at the hands of the Baltimore Orioles.
After failing to come to an agreement on a new contract with the Rangers, Hamilton joined the Angels after signing a five-year, $125 million contract in 2013. And all Hamilton has been with the Angels is a Hollywood box-office disaster.
In two years with the Angels, Hamilton has only appeared in 240 games with 31 home runs and a .255 batting average. Angels manager Mike Scoscia has attempted to move Hamilton around to different spots in the lineup, but he simply appears to be a guy that has mentally checked out. The Angels were able to make the playoffs last season in spite of an ineffective Hamilton and as Los Angeles enters this year with bigger aspirations, they can’t afford to have a distraction like him lingering around the club.
Angels president John Carpino and general manager Jerry Dipoto were both shocked as they expected Hamilton to be suspended and by the sound of things his act has worn thin with them.
If the Angels are indeed ready to move on from Hamilton, it could be the last time that he puts on a Major League Baseball uniform. Hamilton will be 34-years old next month and with his track record and being unable to be trusted off the field, it would be tough for him to get another crack in the big leagues. Hamilton self-reported his violation and at this point the only thing that he needs to concern himself with is seeking the help that he needs to be a better person because the aspect of him being a better baseball player could be a thing of the past.
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