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Hamilton Finally Playing Like A Star

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 26, 2008

Having lived the equivalent of countless baseball lives, Josh Hamilton finally is playing like the rising star the Rays believed they had selected with the No. 1 pick in the 1999 draft.

Now with the Rangers, his fourth organization in less than two years, Hamilton faces the Rays for the first time since they left him unprotected in the Rule 5 draft in the winter of 2006.

Among the American League leaders in batting average (.333), home runs (12) and RBIs (53), Hamilton leads the Rangers into Tropicana Field for a three-game series starting tonight.

Finally enjoying success after drug use nearly cost him his career, Hamilton has been redeeming himself since being reinstated to the game in July 2006 following a four-year suspension for violating baseball's substance abuse policy.

Despite his extended absence (more than five seasons after missing all of 2001 following a spring training car accident), Hamilton remains a five-tool player and finally has become a productive major-leaguer.

More importantly, he has overcome the darkness and appears on a path toward greatness.

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