Josh Hamilton Relapse: Texas Rangers Star Spotted Drinking at a Bar

This isn't Hamilton's first relapse. In January 2009, the outfielder had an incident that involved him being drunk at a bar on a Saturday night in Arizona. He was photographed in compromising positions with women, but none of them being his wife. I'm embarrassed about it. For the Rangers, I'm embarrassed about it. For my wife, kids, said Hamilton of the January 2009 incident. Unfortunately, it happened. It just reinforces to me that if I'm out there getting ready for a season and taking my focus off the most important thing in my recovery, which is my relationship with Christ, it's amazing how those things creep back in. At the time of the 2009 incident, Hamilton hadn't had a drink since 2005.

Hamilton was a number one draft pick in 1999 for the Tampa Bay Rays. He was 18-years-old at the time. The outfielder was banished from baseball in 2004. Hamilton was reportedly doing coke and consuming a bottle of Crown Royal a day. He took three years off from baseball to get clean and serve suspensions. During those three years Hamilton's wife kicked him out of their home. Hamilton returned to the major leagues in 2007, joining the Cincinnati Reds.

At the end of this season Hamilton was to become a free agent. The Rangers and Hamilton were reportedly to be discussing long-term contract extension. When the Rangers added Hamilton to their team in 2007, they warned of a no tolerance policy regarding his off the field stints. Since joining the Rangers, Hamilton is drug tested three times a week. The outfielder won the AL MVP in 2010. In a statement to the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers said they were aware of a situation, but we don't have further comment at this time.

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