Hamilton returns to face Rays
5/26/2008 5:58 PM
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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -Josh Hamilton was taken by the Tampa Bay Rays with the first overall pick in the 1999 amateur draft. He was a can't-miss prospect with triple crown potential.
Nine years later, Hamilton is finally about to show his skills at the Rays' home park. He'll be wearing a Texas Rangers' uniform.
After a career detour that included injuries and addictions to cocaine and alcohol that kept him off the field from 2003-05, Hamilton entered Monday night's game against the Rays tied for second in the AL with a .333 average and 12 homers, and a league-best 53 RBIs.
``There's a lot of history here with me, but at the same time, it's a different team,'' Hamilton said. ``I've got to focus on playing ball. It's a little weird seeing and facing some of the guys I've seen before.''
Tampa Bay executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman spearheaded the effort to get Hamilton reinstated from the suspension list, and the center fielder was allowed to resume playing minor league games in June 2006.
``I'm grateful for what Andrew Friedman did, as far as getting me on the road back getting into baseball,'' Hamilton said. ``He worked really hard at that.''
In December 2006 the Chicago Cubs took Hamilton in the winter meeting draft and traded him to the Cincinnati Reds. Hamilton, suddenly, was a major leaguer in 2007, and hit .292 with 19 homers and 47 RBIs in 90 games, one season after appearing in 15 games for short-season Class-A Hudson Valley.
Texas acquired Hamilton from the Reds for pitchers Edinson Volquez and Danny Ray Herrera last December.
The Rangers arrived in Florida Sunday night, and stay at a waterfront hotel in St. Petersburg when playing the Rays. It provided the perfect setting for him to take a walk along the water and reflect.
``I've never really just done that when I was here before. It was kind of a peaceful feeling,'' Hamilton said. ``It gave me a sense of peace about where I've been, and where I've come from and how I got through that.''
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