Hamilton could be activated for Monday's game
BOSTON -- Josh Hamilton has finished the Double-A Frisco portion of his rehab work. The countdown is now down to three days with Triple-A Round Rock before possibly being activated on Monday in Cleveland.
Hamilton closed out his time with Frisco by hitting a two-run home run in his last at-bat of the Roughriders' 8-1 victory over Midland. It was his first home run since being acquired from the Angels on April 27 and being assigned to the Minor Leagues on medical rehab assignment to complete his recovery from offseason right shoulder surgery.
"I felt good," Hamilton told reporters after the game in Frisco. "It felt good. I finally woke up. I've finally learned how to do it."
Hamilton is now hitting .371 in 10 games with 13 hits in 35 at-bats. He has a .405 on-base percentage and a .571 slugging percentage as he heads back to Round Rock.
"I'm just glad to be back playing. I don't care where I play," Hamilton said. "Eventually I'll be where I want to be. I can do some work in the outfield, take some balls off the bat in BP. Hopefully it doesn't rain. I'll be good to go."
The plan for Hamilton is to play at Round Rock on Thursday through Saturday and then be re-evaluated. The Rangers, after their Sunday night game in New York, open a three-game series with the Indians on Monday at Progressive Field.
Hamilton has not played in a Major League game since the Angels were in the American League Division Series against the Royals last season. He missed all of Spring Training and was working out on his own when the Rangers acquired him by trade.
"I think Spring Training is more mental, because you're toned way back," Hamilton said. "You're playing, but you're not where you would be right now. I've been going at it every day pretty much, just mentally wrapping myself up, because you know it's got to get done. Spring Training, you have a little more time to get there. I'm about where I'd be with about a week and a half left in Spring Training."
Hamilton said he has been communicating regularly with the Rangers about his progress.
"We're talking together," Hamilton said. "Them obviously asking me how I feel and me being honest with them. Them at the same time understanding they don't need to rush me back for anything. In the past, obviously I would have forced the issue to get back, but I'm not forcing the issue now. I kind of grew up a little bit."