Josh Hamilton is Injured Once Again

Sep 1, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Josh Hamilton (32) watches in the dugout during the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Angel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

And so, it begins.

Josh Hamilton has never been a paragon of durability throughout his career, missing quite a bit of time between 2007 and 2011 with a rather lengthy list of injuries and ailments. It appeared as though he may have started to get over the injury prone label in the last two years however, as he played in over 145 games in both 2012 and 2013. While Hamilton did not perform nearly as well as the Angels would have hoped, he was at least out there virtually every day.

However, Hamilton does have that history of getting injured if the wind shifts just right. So, when reports come out that Hamilton is on crutches after a baserunning drill, there are reasons to be concerned. Even though it is said that Hamilton only has a strained left calf, alarms have to sound.

For his part, Josh Hamilton has stated that he is not concerned about the calf. Team doctors have told Hamilton to stay off the leg for a few days, so the crutches may not be indicative of any major problems, there may not be a set timetable for when Hamilton will be able to resume baseball activities.

"“If you ask me in four to five days, I’ll know better. But right now, I can’t tell you. We have to get it to the point that the spasm releases, and we can reassess and evaluate it good,” Hamilton said."

The injury could well be just a calf strain. However, when Hamilton says things like “it grabbed me good” and “go a week at a time,” it becomes a concern. For now, this does not appear to be a major injury, although with Hamilton and his track record, one can never tell.

Josh Hamilton may only have a strained calf, but until he is back on the field and getting ready for Opening Day, it is something to keep an eye on.