America hasn't had enough of the Josh Hamilton story. That much can be assumed after the former Athens Drive High star, despite missing half of this season with injuries, received more than 2.4 million votes to the American League All-Star team.
Hamilton had the third-highest total of any outfielder, which, if healthy enough to play, gives him a starting spot in the MLB All-Star game on July 14 game in St. Louis.
Hamilton is currently on the disabled list with after having surgery on June 9 to repair a torn abdominal muscle, but could be back with the Rangers as soon as Monday.
Hamilton, out since June 2, is hitting .240 with six homers and 24 RBIs in 35 games for the Rangers this season. He is playing for the Triple-A Oklahoma RedHawks on rehabilitation assignment this weekend. The RedHawks' game was rained out on Saturday, delaying his return to the major leagues. The RedHawks are scheduled to play two seven-inning games today. Hamilton was 2-for-20 in his four-game rehabilitation assignment heading into Sunday's RedHawks games, prompting Rangers manager Ron Washington to push back his return to the big leagues. "We just want him right when he comes back," Washington told MLB.com. "As long as he feels good, that's all that matters. It's hard to predict. We just gotta wait and see how he's doing. If that means a couple of extra days, it's another couple of days."
Hamilton, who made a huge splash in the home run derby last season when he hit a record 28 homers in the first round and finished second to Minnesota's Justin Morneau in the final round, has said that he will play in the All-Star Game if elected to start but would not participate in the long-ball showcase this year.
