Josh Hamilton cleared to play
Josh Hamilton, the No. 1 overall pick of the 1999 draft who has been suspended since February 2004 because of persistent drug and alcohol problems, has been cleared by Major League Baseball to play. He is expected to join the Devil Rays’ short-season Class A team at Hudson Valley (N.Y.).
Hamilton, who spent two weeks working out at the Naimoli Complex during extended spring training, has been waiting to hear if he can take the next step in his comeback. “It feels awesome,” Hamilton said. “It’s what I’ve been looking for. I’m very excited to get started.”
Hamilton, 25, says he has been clean since October and is drug tested three times a week.
--Damian Cristodero, Times staff writer
Follow the Rays through spring training and the season with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the Times sports staff. We invite your participation in the comments area.
In 1 word: Cool!Does Josh deserve this, with his record? No!Does Josh deserve this, with his accomplishments? No!Does Josh deserve this, as a human being? YESYESYES!I just hope he's enjoying every day, day at a time, so he get's another kick rather then he's used to the last years. It's a tough road, I know, and I hope he'll use the time he's given the "right" wayMichael (Netherlands, soon in Florida)
Posted by: Anonymous | June 30, 2006 at 06:19 PM
GO-GO ........ JOSH ! IF HE IS AS GOOD AS THEY SAY. HE SHOULD GET ADJUSTED QUICKLY LIKE ROCCO DID AFTER MISSING OVER ONE YEAR. MY 3 WISHES WOULD BE TO HAVE LONGORIA, JOSH HAMILTON AND JUAN SALAS WITH THE RAYS SOMETIME IN 2007. EVAN COULD BE LIKE AL KALINE WHO WAS IN THE MAJORS AT AGE 19,I THINK. THEY ARE PUTTING TOGETHER A DANDY TEAM. ALL WE NEED IS ONE 20 GAME WINNER !
Posted by: RICHIE RICARDO | June 30, 2006 at 06:48 PM
amazing.. another great role model in sports for the young kids to look up to.. NOT...its sending the message that says "hey go ahead and break the rules, you'll still be eligible to play"...
Posted by: Anonymous | June 30, 2006 at 07:57 PM
Hamilton, Upton, Young, have I forgotten anyone? Nothing like a class organization! I have decided my kids need not have an education, just make them great athletes. Not only will they get paid millions, but can get out of trouble because of who they are. No wonder athletes are such $#^holes in public.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 30, 2006 at 08:04 PM
I'm glad they gave him another shot. And I can tell you the MAIN reason they gave him another shot: money. If he was a 27th-rounder, he would have been gone a long time ago. That being said, all they are going to do is push him back into that lifestyle if they would have turned him away. But I wonder if he knows the words to the Vince Gill song "One More Last Chance?" He better learn 'em, because it's the final one.
Posted by: Tonka | June 30, 2006 at 08:59 PM
I've always noticed that "anonymous" users are the ones with the a-hole/smartmouth comments and don't know jack about what they're talking about.If you don't think that he deserves it, be a man/woman and put your name down.Basically, Josh earned this shot to reclaim what was starting to look at as a lost career. If he truly has become a changed man, he knows that drugs weren't doing anything for him and baseball is his true reason for living(other than his wife and 2 kids). It's been 10 months since he last had a failed test.Does he deserve a 2nd chance? Who knows, but he wasn't hurting anybody out on the field when he was suspended. Basically MLB had a "clean up or stay suspended" rule with Josh and he had to figure out what was more important to him in life.
Posted by: Jake | July 01, 2006 at 04:09 AM