Rangers’ Hamilton aims for Friday return
The Texas Rangers are going to the playoffs and they’re about to get their most valuable asset back. Slugger Josh Hamilton has sat out nearly the entire month of September with cracked ribs but has made progress and is aiming for a return this weekend. That
is just in time to play the final series of the regular season and get him ready for October.
"I feel good," said Hamilton. "I didn't have any problems. When I release my top hand at the end of my swing [after contact], I don't feel any pain at all."
Hamilton took 50 swings prior to Wednesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners and felt great. He will be the designated hitter in the lineup or the Rangers’ series this weekend against the Los Angeles Angels. Hamilton has not played since September 4th
when he crashed into the wall at Target Field in Minnesota.
Hamilton wore some gear around his ribcage during his workout and took 10 swings off a tee and was given 40 pitches to hit. Hamilton will start to hit balls in a batting cage before Thursday night’s game and if all goes well, he will be ready to go on Friday.
The good part is there’s no pressure on Hamilton to try to do too much in the season’s final games. The Rangers built a comfortable lead heading into September and were able to get by without their MVP. They wrapped up their division and are in prep mode
for the second part of the season. Texas can’t move any higher in the standings, as they are five games behind Minnesota with four games left. They will enter the playoffs as the third seed and will face the Twins in the divisional round. The Twins will have
home-field advantage for the series. This is what makes Hamilton’s return so crucial.
Hamilton will return in time when it counts, for the postseason. This weekend will be about getting him warmed up and shaking off the rust. Hamilton has to be healthy for October if the Rangers look to make a deep playoff run.
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