Hamilton's comeback bid derailed by knee surgery

Josh Hamilton's comeback attempt suffered a heartbreaking blow Monday when the 35-year-old - vying for a spot on the Texas Rangers' Opening Day roster - underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage in his uncooperative left knee, which has now been operated on four times in the last 18 months.

Hamilton, who missed all of 2016 after undergoing reconstructive surgery on the same knee, will require six weeks of rehab before he can resume running, according to MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan, and would then need another four-to-six weeks in the minors before being considered for a spot on the active roster.

In camp on a minor-league deal, Hamilton's knee flared up during running drills last week, and Dr. Walt Lowe determined surgery was the best course of action after the former MVP's knee didn't respond to a platelet-rich plasma injection.

"It is disappointing for Josh," manager Jeff Banister told The Associated Press last week. "I feel for him. He came into camp feeling good. I'm sure that for him, this is a challenge."

Set to earn $28.41 million in 2017 in the final season of a five-year deal he signed with the Los Angeles Angels following the 2012 campaign, Hamilton - who has now undergone 11 knee surgeries in his career - is expected to return to Arizona later this week to begin rehabilitating.