Running remains an issue for Hamilton
ARLINGTON -- The official word on Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton as he recovers from a sore left knee: He is improving, but he is not ready.
That's the assessment of both Hamilton and manager Jeff Banister just two days before Hamilton is eligible to come off the disabled list. Hamilton has been taking batting practice, which suggests he is close to being able to at least pinch-hit, but running is still the issue.
"Hitting and throwing, it feels good on the knee," Hamilton said. "But I haven't gotten to the point where I can do important things, like run and jog. Hopefully, that is the next step. I came in feeling bad with no improvement for two weeks, and then all of a sudden, I came in and said, 'Hey, let me go swing a bat.'
"Hopefully, from the running aspect, that's what I'm looking for. I'm not looking for full speed; hopefully, I can jog enough to pinch-hit. But in the outfield, I need to be 75 to 80 [percent] to be in the outfield. If I can be 35 to 40 percent, I'll be OK to pinch-hit. But at this point I don't want to do anything that will stop me from moving forward."
Hamilton was acquired from the Angels on April 27 and activated from the DL on May 25, but he has been able to play in just 38 of 83 games since then because of injuries. He missed almost all of June because of a strained left hamstring and has been sidelined with the sore knee since Aug. 16.
"There is still pain, even with all the tests and treatment," Banister said. "We're trying to get all the pain and inflammation out of there. It's not improving at the rate we'd like it to improve. That's the human body.
"We'll take Josh when he is physically capable in whatever capacity. He is a game-changer, but we're not going to push him to the detriment of who he is, what he is and his future."
Corporan could be ready on Tuesday: Major League rosters can expand up to 40 players on Tuesday, and the Rangers are expecting catcher Carlos Corporan to join them. Corporan, who is on the DL with a strained left thumb, has gone 2-for-10 over three games for Double-A Frisco on his rehab assignment.
On Saturday, Corporan was transferred to Triple-A Round Rock to complete the assignment with the goal of adding catching depth to the Rangers when the rosters expand.
Catcher Robinson Chirinos is also improving. He is on the DL with a strained left shoulder but has been able to catch and take batting practice. On Friday he caught a simulated game off a pitching machine without any issues, and he is hoping to go on a rehab assignment sometime next week.
"It is feeling a lot better," Chirinos said.
The Rangers will add some players on Tuesday, but probably not everybody they plan on calling up. Round Rock's season runs through Sept. 7 before the playoffs start, and the Express has a five-game lead in the PCL American Southern division.
The Rangers would like a third catcher, pitching depth in the bullpen and speed off the bench. An extra utility infielder is also on the list.
"We have had a number of conversations on what our immediate needs are for Sept. 1 and what are long-term needs are," Banister said.
Worth noting
• Rougned Odor is still day to day while dealing with a ripped fingernail on the middle finger of his right hand. Odor is available off the bench, but he's not at the point where he can play nine innings.
• Jurickson Profar went 1-for-3 as a designated hitter in his second rehab game for Class A Hickory as he continues to recover from surgery on his right shoulder.
• With his triple on Friday night, Delino DeShields became the fourth Rangers rookie to have at least eight in a season. Ruben Sierra had 10 in 1986, as did David Hulse in 1993. Elvis Andrus had eight in 2009.
DeShields tripled in the first inning of Saturday's game for No. 9 on the season.