Josh Hamilton showed up to Rangers camp Tuesday, a week before position players are required to report, and went through a full baseball workout that included stretching, throwing, shagging fly balls, hitting, and running the bases. But the physical reports afterward weren’t so promising.
According to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Hamilton’s left knee has started to “bark again” with the effects of a January anti-inflammatory shot now wearing off. The veteran outfielder plans to continue daily workouts and expects to be ready for Opening Day, but he’ll probably have to take it a little easier than he did Tuesday.
“We’ll hit it with treatment and see if it responds to being active every day. Hopefully it does,” Hamilton told the Star-Telegram. “I’m not really worrying about it. I ran some bases today. It seems like the more I do on it, the better it feels. ... I think Doc said it was inflammation of the capsule. I’m wondering why, 2 1/2 weeks later, it started happening again. Is this going to be an ongoing thing? Is this not going to be an ongoing thing? I have those questions, too.”
Hamilton, who turns 35 years old in May, appeared in just 50 games last season for the Rangers and finished with a disappointing .253/.291/.441 batting line. He is owed $28.41 million in 2016 and another $28.41 million in 2017, though most of that tab is being picked up by the Angels.
