Joshua Holt Hamilton¡has four daughters: Julia Shea (March 14, 2001), Sierra Elise (Aug. 22, 2005), Michaela Grace (Aug. 14, 2008), and Stella Faith (Sept. 9, 2011)¡graduated from Athens Drive High School in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1999, where he was a two-time winner of the North Carolina Gatorade High School Player of the Year Award¡following his senior season in 1999, was named USA Baseball's Amateur Player of the Year and Baseball America's High School Player of the Year¡in 25 games during that senior season hit .529 (37-70) with 20 stolen bases, 35 RBI and a school-record 13 homers while finishing 7-1, 2.50 (56 IP, 91 SO) as a pitcher¡as a junior in 1998, he hit .636 (49-77, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 20 SB) and finished 11-2 as a pitcher (87 IP, 159 SO).
2016
Appeared in just one game in 2016, a minor league rehab contest, due to multiple surgeries on his left knee…opened the 2016 season on the 15-day DL as he continued to rehab from a cleanup surgery on his left knee on 10/28/15 (original surgery on 9/11/15)… after discomfort post-surgery, had stem cell injection in knee on 2/23/16 given by Dr. Jeff Dugas in Birmingham, Ala., but still did not appear in any spring training 'A' games for Texas…was assigned to Frisco (AA) on injury rehab assignment on 4/30 but went 0-for-2 in his only game that night before experiencing continued knee discomfort…was transferred to 60-day DL on 5/7 and underwent additional surgery on 6/8/16 to repair a torn ACL and cartilage damage in the knee, with the procedure performed by Dr. Walt Lowe in Houston…was activated from the 60-day DL and released by Texas on 8/23/16
2015
Acquired in a trade with the Angels in exchange for cash considerations on April 27, 2015, Hamilton navigated three disabled list stints to post a .253 (43-170) average with eight home runs and 25 RBI in 50 games…had career lows in most categories, including games, HR, RBI, average and OPS (.732)…made 41 total starts: 33 in LF, 7 in RF, 1 as DH…his Texas debut on May 25 at Cleveland marked first ML game since Oct. 5, 2014, ALDS Game 3 at KC and first with Texas since Oct. 5, 2012, A.L. Wild Card vs. Baltimore…did not have a steal attempt for the first time in his ML career.
2014
Appeared in 89 games in his second season with Angels, batting .263 (89/338) with 21 doubles, 10 home runs and 44 RBI...All 10 of his homers came on the road...Hit .295 (52/176) with 12 doubles, five home runs and 26 RBI in 46 games before the All-Star break compared to .228 (37/162) with nine doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI after the break...Tabbed as the A.L. co-Player of the Week for the first week of the season after batting .500 (11/22) with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI...Marked third career weekly honors...Missed several games throughout the season due to injury...Missed 48 games (April 9-June 3) after having surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in left thumb...Suffered injury April 8th at Seattle...Missed final 11 games of season and 21 of last 22 tilts dealing with a sore trap muscle, score AC joint, right rib cage and chest injuries (was not placed on DL)...Selected by fans as a finalist for the 2014 Marvin Miller Man of the Year award.
2013
Batted .250 (144/576) with 32 doubles, five triples, 21 home runs and 79 RBI in first season with the Angels…Posted career lows in average and OBP (.307)...Matched a career high in triples while the 32 doubles were most in a campaign since a career-best 40 in 2010...151 games played were second highest total of career (156 in 2008)... After batting .207 (57/275) with 25 RBI thru June 23 (72 G), went on to bat .289 (87/301) with 54 RBI the remainder of the season (79 G), including a .329 (56/170) clip over his final 45 games…His .329 average from Aug. 9 thru the end of the season ranked fourth in the AL...Finished the season riding a season-long 14-game hit streak... Hit .204 in April, .237 in May, .231 in June, .238 in July, .272 in August and .323 in September... Collected 1,000th career hit Sept. 27 vs. Texas in his 886th career game…Was the sixth active player with 1,000 hits and 180 home runs in first 900 career games, joining A. Pujols, R. Braun, T. Helton, A. Rodriguez and A. Soriano... Connected for fourth career walk-off home run and first as an Angel in the 11th inning July 6th vs. Boston…Hit his fifth career walk-off home run on Aug. 17 vs. Houston... Logged first hit as an Angel on April 4 at CIN…First home run came April 13 vs. HOU.
2012
Finished his fifth season with Texas batting .285 (160-for-562) with a 103 runs, 31 doubles, 43 home runs and 128 RBIs...Established new career highs in both runs and home runs...Third straight campagin and fourth of career with 25+ homers and 90+ RBIs...Played in 148 games, the second-highest total of his career (156 in 2008)...Ranked among AL leaders in several offensive categories including, home runs (T2nd), RBIs (2nd), slugging (.577, 2nd), total bases (234, 5th), extra-base hits (76, 4th) and runs (T5th)...Batted .308 (92-for-299) with 27 home runs and 75 RBIs in first half of season...Became just sixth player to record those numbers before All-Star break (1933-2012) and first since Alex Rodriguez in 2007 (.316/30/86)...Nominiated to his fifth career Midsummer Classic after receiving an All-Star record 11,073,744 votes...Started game in left field...Marked fifth consecutive All-Star game start...On May 8 in Baltimore, had a career day going 5-for-5 with a double, four home runs and eight RBIs...The four-homer outing was just the 16th in Major League history and first since Carlos Delgado's on Sept. 25, 2003, at Tampa Bay...Recorded 18 total bases in contest, joining Dodgers' Shawn Green (19 TB, May 23, 2002 at MIL) and Brewers' Joe Adcock (18 TB, July 31, 1954 vs. BKN) as only players to tally at least 18 total bases in a single game...Also homered in his final at-bat on May 7, giving him six extra-base hits in six plate appearances (2B, 5 HR), becoming first player to accomplish feat since Ken Griffey, Jr. on July 1-2, 1998 (3 2Bs, 3Bs, 2 HRs)...Tabbed as American League's Player of Month for both April and May after batting .395 (34-for-86) with nine home runs and 25 RBIs in April and .344 (33-for-96) with 12 homers 32 RBIs in May...Marked sixth time a player has won award in season's first two months and his second (2008)...Represented his fifth career Player of Month honors.
2011
Hamilton had another strong offensive season despite
missing 36 games with a fractured humerus bone in his right arm
early in the year...posted 3rd career season of 25+ HR and 90+
RBI, all with Texas, joining 6 other Rangers with at least 3 such
campaigns: Juan Gonzalez (7), Rafael Palmeiro (6), Ruben Sierra
(3), Alex Rodriguez (3), Hank Blalock (3), and Mark Teixeira (3)...
led the A.L. with 20 game-winning RBI, tying team record and
placed among the league leaders in go-ahead RBI (T4th, 27), sacrifice flies (T3rd, 10), slugging (8th, .536), intentional walks (T6th,
13), batting average (15th, .298), and RBI (16th, 94)...was 2nd on
team in slugging and batting, had the 3rd-most RBI, and was 4th
in hits (142) and doubles (31)...started 81 games in left, 30 in center, and 9 as the DH.
2010
His regular season cut short due to an early September
injury, Hamilton still led the major leagues in batting average (.359),
slugging pct. (.633), and OPS (1.044) ... ranked among A.L. leaders
in on-base pct. (2nd, .411), total bases (4th, 328), extra-base hits
(5th, 75), home runs (T5th, 32), multi-hit games (T5th, 53), hits
(T6th, 186), doubles (12th, 40), runs (12th, 95), and RBI (12th,
100) ... established career high with 40 doubles and tied his career
best in homers despite missing nearly 4 full weeks at the end of
September ... entered the postseason having played one full game
in the outfield from Aug. 29 through the end of the regular season.
2009
Batted .268 with 10 home runs, 19 doubles, and 54 RBI over 89 games in his second season with Texas...missed 33 total
games over a pair of disabled list stints, and also missed most of September with an additional injury that did not include a DL stay...in
part due to the injuries, posted the lowest average, on-base (.315), slugging (.426), home run, runs scored (43), and extra-base hit
(29) totals of his 3-year career...had lines of .280/.352/.453 in day games, .264/.303/.418 in night contests, a turnaround from
2008...hit nearly 100 points better on the road (.320) than at home (.226), although he hit more homers (6 to 4) and had more RBI
(35 to 19) in Arlington...had a .314 (27-86) average with runners in scoring position and was 4-for-11 with the bases loaded...produced
season-high 4 hits twice, Aug. 13 at Cleveland and Aug. 25 at New York-AL...homered in 3 of first 4 games after return from
first DL stint, May 12-15...posted 3rd career 2-homer game on Sept. 1 vs. Toronto (G2).
2008
In his first season as an everyday player in the major leagues, Hamilton was voted as a starting outfielder in the All-Star Game
and led the American League in both RBI and total bases (tied)...batted .304 with 32 home runs, 130 RBI, and 35 doubles in his second
big league season, his first campaign with the Rangers...led the American League in both RBI (130) and total bases (tied-331),
joining Alex Rodriguez (2002) and Ruben Sierra (1989) as the only Texas batters ever to lead the league in those two categories in
a season...led the A.L. in all 3 Triple Crown categories as late as through games of June 2, the first time for an A.L. player to lead
that late since Boston's Manny Ramirez in 2001...that year, Ramirez held the lead in those 3 categories as late as through games of
June 3.
2007
Batted .292 with 19 HR and 47 RBI in 90 games for Cincinnati,
making a team-high 64 starts in center field...also 9 starts in right and
2 in left...made the Opening Day roster after batting .403 in spring
training...was acquired by Cincinnati in a 2006 Rule 5 Draft deal with
the Cubs, who selected Hamilton from Tampa Bay with the third pick
and then traded him to the Reds for cash considerations...had the 2ndhighest
slugging pct. (.554) among all N.L. rookies, trailing only N.L.
Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun...had 2 stints on the DL: May 22-June
3 with gastroenteritis (an infection or inflammation of the gastrointestinal
tract) and from July 12-Aug. 11 with a sprained right wrist...also
missed the last 17 games of the season with a strained right hamstring
and a sore right wrist, but did not go on the DL...despite the low total
of games, still ranked among NL rookie leaders in HR (4th), walks (5th,
33), OBP (5th, .368), extra-base hits (7th, 38), total bases (8th, 165),
runs (8th, 52), RBI (9th), and doubles (10th, 17)...named N.L. Rookie of the Month for April...made ML debut on Opening Day, April
2 vs. Chicago-NL, lining out to left as pinch-hitter...made first career start on April 10 at Arizona, batting leadoff and playing center...in
that game produced his first career hit, a 2-run HR off Edgar Gonzalez...was his first professional HR since June 29, 2002 for
Bakersfield at San Jose...had 4 hits and fell a HR shy of the cycle on May 5 vs. Colorado...suffered right wrist injury on July 7 vs.
Arizona while swinging a bat in the on-deck circle...left game Sept. 12 vs. St. Louis with a strained right hamstring in what would be
his last game of the year...was bothered by shin splints in spring training, but still ranked among N.L. exhibition leaders and led the
Reds in hitting (.403) and hits (29).
2006
On 6/2 was granted permission by Major League Baseball to participate in extended spring
training with the Devil Rays...had been suspended since 2/18/04 for violating the league's joint drug treatment
and prevention program...on 6/30 was granted permission by MLB to participate in minor league games and
appeared in 15g for the Devil Rays' short-season Class A affiliate at Hudson Valley in the New York-Penn
League...were his first professional apps since 7/10/02 for Class A Bakersfield vs Modesto...spent most
of the summer working out at The Winning Inning, a baseball academy in Clearwater run by former minor
league manager Roy Silver...was rehabbing an injury to his left knee that had required arthroscopic surgery
in March.
2002
For the third straight year suffered a season-ending injury...suffered
injuries to his left shoulder, left elbow, lower back and rib cage...on 7/18 had season-ending surgery to clean
up the frayed labrum in his left shoulder and to remove a bone spur in his left elbow (Dr. James Andrews)...
despite arm injuries that limited him to just 8 apps in the outfield, for the third straight season was voted Best
Outfield Arm in the Devil Rays organization by
Baseball America...made 48 apps at DH...was selected to play in the California League All-Star Game despite appearing in only 38 of his team's 70g...hit at least .300 every
day of the season...recorded 4 hits on Opening Day...was hitting .346 through the season's first week before he
went on the disabled list with back soreness on 4/19...returned on 4/30 and in his first game produced another
4 hits, then 8 days later went back on the DL with a strained rib cage muscle...was hitting .337 on 6/24 but went
8-for-45 (.175) in his last 13g prior to the season-ending shoulder and elbow surgeries.
2005
Did not play professionally.
2004
Did not play professionally.
2003
Did not play professionally.
2002
Suffered a season-ending injury for the 3rd
straight year...suffered injuries to his left shoulder, left elbow, lower back and rib cage...had season-ending surgery to clean up the
frayed labrum in his left shoulder and to remove bone spur in his left elbow on July 18 (Dr. James Andrews)...despite arm injuries
that limited him to just 8 games in the OF, for the 3rd straight season was voted best outfield arm in the Rays organization by Baseball
America...played 48 games as DH...was selected to play in the Cal League All-Star Game despite appearing in only 38 of his team's
70 games...had at least a .300 avg. after every game in the season...was hitting .346 through the season's first week before he went
on the disabled list with back soreness on April 19...returned April 30 and in his first game produced 4 hits, then 8 days later went
back on the DL with a strained rib cage muscle...was hitting .337 on June 24 but went 8-for-45 (.175) in his last 13 games prior to
the season-ending shoulder and elbow surgeries
2001
Entered the
season rated by
Baseball America as the Top Prospect in baseball...for the second straight season was rated by
that publication as the Devil Rays organization's Top Prospect, Best Power Hitter and Best Outfield Arm...was
rated by
USA Today Baseball Weekly as the Top Hitting Prospect in the organization...on 2/28 injured his back
in a motorcycle accident near his Bradenton, Florida home and missed 3 spring training workouts...began the
season at Class AA Orlando and hit .180 in his first 23g before he went on the disabled list with a lower back
strain...was reinstated from the DL on 6/21 and was transfered to Class A Charleston...that night strained his
left quadriceps muscle...from 7/15-7/17 played in 3 more games for Charleston before he returned to the DL
for the rest of the season...was scheduled to play for Maryvale in the Arizona Fall League but suffered a left
shoulder strain and another back injury that limited him to 2 apps...
2000
In his first full professional season
hit .302 with 13hr, 61rbi and 14 stolen bases in 96g at Class A Charleston...despite missing the last month
of the minor league season with an injury joined Asheville's J.R. House as co-Most Valuable Players of the
South Atlantic League...was USA Today's Minor League Player of the Year...was Most Valuable Player of the
South Atlantic League All-Star Game (2-6, 2 triples, 2 runs)...was TB's Minor League Player of the Month for
April (.448, 10 2b, 20rbi) and June (.400, 6 2b, 6hr, 18rbi)...his .448 average in April was the second-highest
BA by any minor leaguer in any month of the season (Oklahoma's B.J. Waszgis hit .463 in April)...as the
youngest player in the All-Star Futures Game went 3-for-4 to help lead Team USA past the World Team, 3-2...
in voting by
Baseball America was named by field managers as the South Atlantic League's Most Outstanding
Major League Prospect, Best Batting Prospect, Best Power Prospect, Best Outfield Arm and Most Exciting
Player...was named the Top Prospect in the South Atlantic League and the Top Prospect, Best Power Hitter
and Best Outfield Arm in the Rays organization...had a pair of 5-hit games, on 4/20 at Asheville and on 4/29
vs Asheville...in a 5-game span from 4/20-4/24 went 17-for-24 (.708, 5 2b, 9rbi, 3sb)...on 4/28 beat Asheville,
1-0, with a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning...put together a 16-game hitting streak from 4/19-5/6
(.472), raising overall BA from .293 to .407...during that streak had two 4-hit games and two 5-hit games...
on 6/7 vs Columbia produced his first career 2-homer game to extend his hitting streak to a career-high 17g
(.380, 5hr, 14rbi)...the streak ended the next day...on 8/7 had season-ending arthroscopic surgery to repair
the torn lateral meniscus in his right knee...suffered the injury on 7/31 while chasing a fly ball.
1999
On 6/3
signed his first professional contract and reported to Princeton in the rookie Appalachian League...hit .347
with 10hr, 48rbi and 17 steals in just 56 apps before he was promoted to Class A Hudson Valley on 8/17...was
an Appalachian League All-Star and was voted by
Baseball America as the league's Top Prospect...missed
Princeton's season opener with a severe case of food poisoning he contracted on the team bus heading from
St. Petersburg to Princeton...was hospitalized for 2 days...made his pro debut in the second game of Princeton's
season and went 2-for-5 with a homer and 3rbi to lead the Rays to a 10-7 win at Bluefield...singled in his first
professional plate appearance...hit safely in each of his first 6g, including 5 multi-hit games (.462)...hit safely
in 47 of his 56 apps for Princeton, including 16 of his final 18g...on 8/16 vs Martinsville fell only a single shy
of the cycle...was promoted the next day...while with Hudson Valley helped the team win the New York-Penn
League championship by hitting .429 with 2hr and 8rbi in the post-season, all team highs.
