Hamilton, Moreland set for rehab assignments

ST. PETERSBURG -- Josh Hamilton hit a home run in Arizona on Friday. Mitch Moreland hit one into a tankful of aquatic creatures. Their reward is to be reunited as teammates at Triple-A Round Rock.

Hamilton played in an extended spring game against the Mariners on Friday, and he went 1-for-5 with a home run while playing five innings in left field. The plan is for him to begin a rehab assignment with Round Rock on Sunday in Nashville, Tenn. He will join Moreland, who will begin a rehab assignment with Round Rock on Saturday.

"They are going good, so I hope we don't slow [Round Rock] down," Moreland said.

The Rangers acquired Hamilton from the Angels on April 27, but he was still recovering from offseason surgery on his right shoulder. Hamilton has not played in any kind of regular game since the playoffs last season, and he was 1-for-13 in three extended spring games.

The Rangers haven't said how long they want Hamilton to remain in Round Rock, but his length of stay won't necessarily be dictated by performance.

"More than anything, it is about him being in shape and getting his legs under him," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "It's his ability to repeat that daily and how he feels for nine innings. I trust the quality of the at-bats is going to be Josh Hamilton, and I believe he'll be able to tell us when he is ready. How many at-bats? We'll evaluate that with him involved."

Video: TEX@TB: Moreland takes batting practice before game

Moreland had minor left elbow surgery on April 29, and if all goes well, he will take off Tuesday and be activated on Wednesday.

Moreland took batting practice for a second straight day on Friday at Tropicana Field and looked normal. He ended an afternoon session by hitting one that splashed down in the Rays' aquarium well beyond the fence in deep right-center.

"Everything went well, everything went great," Moreland said. "I was able to let it go."