Josh Hamilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Josh Hamilton |
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Hamilton with the Texas Rangers in 2012
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| Outfielder | |||
| Born: May 21, 1981 Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| April 2, 2007, for the Cincinnati Reds | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| October 4, 2015, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .290 | ||
| Home runs | 200 | ||
| Runs batted in | 701 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
Joshua Holt Hamilton (born May 21, 1981) is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2007 to 2015. He is best known for his time with the Texas Rangers. With the Rangers, he helped the team win the American League pennant in 2010 and 2011.
Hamilton was a five-time All-Star. He also won three Silver Slugger Awards. In 2010, he was named the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP). He also won an AL batting championship and an AL RBI title. During his career, he also played for the Cincinnati Reds and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays chose Hamilton as the first overall pick in the 1999 MLB draft. He was seen as a very promising player. After some time away from the game, Hamilton was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 draft before the 2007 season. The Cubs then traded him to the Cincinnati Reds, where he made his MLB debut in 2007.
Before the 2008 season, he was traded to the Texas Rangers. He had a great season in 2008 and helped the team reach the World Series in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, Hamilton received more fan votes than any other player in the history of the All-Star Game. On May 8, 2012, Hamilton became the 16th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in a game. On that day, he also set an AL record for total bases in a game with 18. Hamilton was honored by being inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2019.
Hamilton signed with the Los Angeles Angels in 2012. He later returned to the Rangers in 2015 and played one more season before injuries ended his career.
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Early Life and High School Baseball
Joshua Holt Hamilton was born on May 21, 1981, in Raleigh, North Carolina. His parents are Tony and Linda Hamilton. He grew up in Raleigh and played Little League Baseball. He went to Athens Drive High School in Raleigh. There, he was a star player as both a pitcher and an outfielder.
As a high school senior, Hamilton was very fast, running the 60-yard dash in 6.7 seconds. He could also throw a baseball very fast, clocked at 97 miles per hour (156 km/h) when pitching. He hit very well, with a .529 batting average in 25 games. He also hit 13 home runs, stole 20 stolen bases, and had 35 runs batted in (RBIs). Hamilton was considered one of the top two prospects for the 1999 MLB draft. He initially planned to play college baseball for North Carolina State.
Professional Baseball Career
Draft and Minor Leagues
The Tampa Bay Devil Rays had the first pick in the 1999 MLB draft. They used it to select Hamilton. The Devil Rays saw Hamilton as a player who was sure to succeed. Hamilton signed with Tampa Bay and received a $3.96 million signing bonus. He then joined their minor league system.
His first stop in the minor leagues was with the rookie-level Princeton Devil Rays. He played 56 games there. Hamilton later joined the Short Season Single-A team, the Hudson Valley Renegades. He helped them win their first New York–Penn League championship. He spent the 2000 season with the Charleston RiverDogs. Hamilton hit .301 in 96 games, with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs. He was chosen for the South Atlantic League All-Star game and was named MVP. Hamilton was also selected for the 2000 All-Star Futures Game, which showcases promising minor league players. USA Today also named Hamilton Minor League Player of the Year in 2000.
In February 2001, Hamilton and his mother were in a car accident. His mother went home, and Hamilton, with a back injury, could not play baseball. Hamilton only played 45 games in the 2001 season. He played for the Charleston (Single-A) and the Orlando Rays, a Double-A team. Hamilton started the 2002 season with the Bakersfield Blaze. He was batting .303 with nine home runs and 44 RBIs in 56 games. His season ended early due to ongoing toe and neck injuries.
Hamilton was away from baseball for a few years. His return to baseball was helped by Roy Silver, a former minor league player and manager. Silver owned a baseball academy in Florida. Hamilton worked at Silver's facility. By the end of June 2006, he was allowed to play in minor league games. Hamilton played in 15 games with the Hudson Valley Renegades at the end of the 2006 season.
Rule 5 Draft
Hamilton was not on the Rays' main roster. So, he was chosen third overall in the 2006 Rule 5 draft by the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs immediately traded him to the Reds for $100,000. Baseball experts called Hamilton "the biggest name in the Rule 5 in many years."
Cincinnati Reds (2007)
Hamilton was one of the Reds' best hitters during spring training in 2007. He had a .403 batting average. To keep him, the Reds had to keep him on their Major League 25-man roster for the whole 2007 season. They planned to use him as a fourth outfielder.
Hamilton made his Major League debut at age 26 on April 2 against the Chicago Cubs. He came in as a pinch-hitter and received a 22-second standing ovation. Cubs catcher Michael Barrett told him, "You deserve it, Josh. Take it all in, brother. I'm happy for you." After hitting the ball, Hamilton stayed in the game to play left field. He made his first start on April 10 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In that game, he got his first Major League hit, a home run off Édgar González. The next night, he hit another home run. Hamilton was named the National League Rookie of the Month for April.
On May 22, the Reds put Hamilton on the 15-day disabled list due to illness. He returned on June 5 after playing well in a minor league rehabilitation assignment. Hamilton went back on the DL on July 12 with a sprained wrist.
Hamilton ended up starting most of the season in center field because of an injury to Ryan Freel. For the 2007 season, he hit .292 with 19 home runs and 47 runs batted in over 90 games.
On December 21, 2007, the Reds traded Hamilton to the Texas Rangers.
Texas Rangers (2008–2012)
2008 Season Highlights
The 2008 season was a breakthrough year for Hamilton. He earned the Rangers' starting center fielder job with a great spring training. His strong performance continued into the regular season. Hamilton led all major league players in RBIs for April. He was named AL Player of the Month for April and May. This made him the first AL player in baseball history to win Player of the Month for the first two months of the season. Hamilton was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated on June 2, 2008, in a story about his comeback. On July 9, Hamilton hit the first walk-off home run of his career.
Fans chose Hamilton as one of the starting outfielders for the AL at the 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium. He finished first in voting among outfielders. He was one of seven first-time starters in the game. He was also chosen to take part in the 2008 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby the evening before the game. Hamilton chose 71-year-old Clay Council to throw to him during the Derby. Council was a volunteer who threw batting practice for him as a child.
In the first round of the event, Hamilton hit 28 home runs. This broke the single-round record of 24 set by Bobby Abreu in 2005. Hamilton hit the most total home runs in the contest with 35. However, he lost in the final round to Justin Morneau, as the scores were reset. His record-setting first round included 13 straight home runs at one point. Seven of his home runs went further than 500 feet (152 m). His longest home run was 518 feet (158 m). After the Derby, Hamilton said: "This was like living the dream out."
On August 17, Hamilton was intentionally walked with the bases loaded against the Rays. This made him the sixth player in history, and the first American League player in 107 years, to receive an intentional walk with the bases loaded.
In the 2008 season, Hamilton had a .304 batting average, 32 home runs, and an American League-leading 130 runs batted in. He won a Silver Slugger Award.
2009 Season
Hamilton had a season with some injuries in 2009. In spring training, Hamilton led all players in RBIs, with 27. He also led in total bases, with 59, in 81 at-bats. He hit a 460-foot (140 m) home run on May 15. In the same series, Hamilton made a great play, leaping at the wall to rob Howie Kendrick of a possible home run.
In June 2009, Hamilton went on the disabled list with an abdominal strain. This was caused by the wall collision in May. On June 9, Hamilton had successful surgery to fix the tear. He was expected to be out for four to six weeks.
Even though he was injured, Hamilton was chosen by fan voting to play in the 2009 All-Star game. Hamilton batted .268 with 10 home runs and 54 RBIs in 2009.
2010: MVP Season and World Series Trip
In 2010, Hamilton moved to left field. He was selected to start in the 2010 All-Star Game. He was one of six Rangers players to represent the team at the 2010 All-Star Game. Hamilton had a .346 batting average at the All-Star Break, tied for first in the AL.
On August 27, Hamilton set a Rangers record with his 24th three-hit game of the season. On September 4, Hamilton bruised his rib cage after making a leaping catch and crashing into an outfield wall. He was later found to have two fractured ribs. Hamilton returned to the lineup on October 1, hitting a home run the next day.
Hamilton led the league with a .359 batting average in 2010, winning his first batting title. He also finished first in slugging percentage (.633) and OPS (1.044). He tied for 10th in home runs (32), even though he missed 29 games due to injury.
On October 22, Hamilton and the Rangers won the 2010 ALCS. They defeated the New York Yankees in six games. Hamilton hit four home runs and had seven RBIs. He won the ALCS MVP Award.
The 2010 World Series was the Rangers' first-ever World Series. The San Francisco Giants defeated the Rangers, four games to one. Hamilton hit .100 with one home run and one run batted in during the Series.
Hamilton won the AL Players Choice Award for Outstanding Player in 2010. He also won a Silver Slugger Award. On November 23, 2010, Hamilton was voted the American League Most Valuable Player.
2011: Second World Series Trip
On February 10, 2011, Hamilton signed a contract for two years and $24 million with the Rangers. On April 12, in Detroit, he broke his right humerus bone during a play at home plate. He returned to the Rangers' lineup on May 23. He hit his first home run of the season on the second pitch he saw during his first at-bat. He was an All-Star in 2011.
On July 7, during a home game, a fan died while trying to catch a foul ball tossed by Hamilton. The fan, Shannon Stone, leaned over the rail and fell 20 feet (6.1 m). On September 30, the son of the fan threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Hamilton.
In the 2011 season, Hamilton batted .298 with 25 home runs. He was third in the American League in sacrifice flies (10).
The Rangers defeated the Detroit Tigers in the 2011 American League Championship Series to reach the World Series for the second year in a row. In the 2011 World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Rangers in seven games. Hamilton hit .241 with one home run and six runs batted in during the Series.
2012: Continued Success
Hamilton hit .395 with nine home runs and 25 RBI during April. He was named the AL Player of the Month. His home run total for the month tied a franchise record for April.
On May 8, in a 10–3 win over the Baltimore Orioles, Hamilton had a fantastic game. He had five hits in five at-bats, hitting four two-run home runs and a double. He had a total of eight runs batted in. He became the 16th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game. He also set the American League record for most total bases in a single game with 18.
Hamilton was selected to appear in his fifth All-Star Game. He received the most fan votes by any player in the history of the All-Star Game selection process. Hamilton received 11,073,744 votes in 2012.
Because Hamilton's hitting had slowed down since June 1, Manager Ron Washington moved Hamilton to the fifth spot in the batting order on July 29. Washington hoped this would take some pressure off him. Hamilton responded quickly. On July 29, he had multiple walks for the first time in July. On July 30, he went 3-for-4 with a home run.
For the 2012 season, Hamilton hit .285 with 43 home runs and 128 runs batted in. He finished fifth in the American League Most Valuable Player voting. He also won his third Silver Slugger Award. The Rangers lost the 2012 American League Wild Card Game to the Baltimore Orioles.
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2013–2014)
On December 13, 2012, Hamilton agreed to a five-year contract worth $125 million with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This deal became official on December 15. Hamilton's time with the Angels was not as successful.
2013 Season
During his first year with the Angels, Hamilton played in 151 games. He batted .250 with 21 home runs and 79 RBIs.
2014 Season
In the 2014 season, Hamilton batted .263 with 10 home runs and 44 RBIs in 89 games. Hamilton had a thumb injury and a shoulder injury during the season. In the ALDS against the Kansas City Royals, Hamilton did not get any hits.
2015 Season
In February 2015, Hamilton had shoulder surgery. Hamilton was traded back to the Rangers on April 27, 2015. The Angels remained responsible for paying most of the money due to him under his contract.
Second Time with the Texas Rangers (2015-2017)
2015 Season
After recovering from his shoulder injury, Hamilton was called up to the MLB team on May 24. He was in the starting lineup on May 25 against the Indians. He got his first hit back with the Rangers on May 25. On May 28, Hamilton returned to Texas in a Rangers uniform for the first time since 2012. He received a standing ovation and hit a double on the first pitch he saw. On May 29, Hamilton hit two home runs. Two days later, he hit a pinch-hit two-run double to win the game in walk-off fashion. On July 30, 2015, Hamilton had four RBI in a Rangers' win over the New York Yankees.
For the 2015 season, Hamilton hit .253 with eight home runs and 25 runs batted in over 50 games. In the ALDS, Hamilton's first hit was a single in Game 3. This ended his postseason hitless streak.
2016 Season
On May 25, 2016, it was announced that Hamilton would be out for the entire 2016 season. He had knee surgery for the third time in nine months. The Rangers released him on August 23.
2017 Season
Hamilton did not play in 2017. On January 16, 2017, Texas re-signed Hamilton to a minor-league deal. On February 26, it was found that Hamilton was having discomfort in his left knee. On February 27, Hamilton had surgery on his left knee. On April 21, the Rangers released Hamilton after he suffered a right knee injury while recovering from his left knee surgery.
Career Statistics and Recognition
In 1,027 games over nine seasons, Hamilton had a .290 batting average. He had 609 runs, 234 doubles, 24 triples, 200 home runs, and 701 RBI. He also had 50 stolen bases, 352 bases on balls, a .349 on-base percentage, and a .516 slugging percentage. When playing defense, he had a .980 fielding percentage at all three outfield positions. In 42 postseason games, he hit .202 with 18 runs, 9 doubles, 6 home runs, 23 RBI, 4 stolen bases, and 15 walks. Hamilton was inducted into the Texas Rangers Hall of Fame in 2019.
Personal Life
Family
Hamilton was married to Katie (née Chadwick). They married in 2004. The couple had three daughters together, along with Katie's daughter from a previous relationship.
Faith and Recovery
Hamilton has spoken publicly about his Christian faith. He believes that his faith helped him overcome challenges. Hamilton also wrote a book called Beyond Belief where he shares his story. In late 2008, Hamilton appeared in videos called "I Am Second". In his video, Hamilton shared his story of recovery with the help of his Christian faith.
Hamilton's Rangers teammates chose to celebrate major wins with ginger ale instead of champagne. This was done out of respect for Hamilton. They repeated these celebrations in 2010 and 2011 when they won their league pennants.
See also
In Spanish: Josh Hamilton para niños
- List of Major League Baseball annual runs batted in leaders
- List of Major League Baseball batting champions
- Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award
- List of Major League Baseball single-game records
