The Los Angeles Angels were expecting to miss outfielder Josh Hamilton for the first month of the season while he rehabbed from shoulder surgery, but according to reports their $125 million man will be out for even longer thanks to a recent relapse into drug use.
Hamilton took it upon himself to inform MLB about his use of cocaine recently, which violates the rules of a treatment program he was placed on when he returned to baseball in 2006. Hamilton was one of the biggest prospects ever, with some scouts likening him to Ken Griffey Jr., when he was a prospect with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Hamilton became addicted to drugs before hitting the big leagues though, and was out of baseball from 2002 to 2006 before getting back on track and debuting with the Cincinnati Reds in 2006. He was traded after one season to the Texas Rangers, where he flourished into an MVP (2010). He also set the record for most home runs in one round of a Home Run Derby as a Ranger.
How MLB will handle his situation is complicated. His past use means there will be a suspension, but even though his previous drug test failures happened as a minor leaguer, he had been added to the Rays' 40-man roster, meaning they were major league violations. MLB may choose to be lenient though, as he did self-report his recent relapse.
Fox Sports is speculating that Hamilton's suspension will be at least 25 games, but not the entire 2015 season. While he's largely been commended for being forthcoming, some MLB officials are of the mind that he became proactive when it became clear he would be unable to pass a drug test.
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