C.J. Wilson has shared a clubhouse with Josh Hamilton for the better part of his MLB career, the two forming a close friendship across their concurrent stints with the Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels.
When Wilson heard Wednesday that Hamilton reportedly suffered a relapse following a well-documented history of substance-abuse issues, the 34-year-old left-hander reached out to his old friend.
"I sent him a text after I got home yesterday, just wishing him well," Wilson told MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez on Thursday. "He's one of my best friends in baseball, one of the guys that I've been with the longest. I support him as a person, and when you have something going on, given what Josh has been through, you're just looking out for him as a person first."
Hamilton, a five-time All-Star, is facing possible discipline after meeting Wednesday with league officials in New York, and it remains unclear when (or if) the 33-year-old will report to spring training. Hamilton was already expected to miss the first few weeks of the regular season after undergoing surgery earlier this month on the acromioclavicular joint in his right shoulder.
A prolonged absence from Hamilton would constitute a significant blow to the Angels' lineup, but center fielder Mike Trout acknowledged Thursday that baseball hardly takes precedence in situations like these.
"It's greater than baseball," Trout said. "He's a friend to all of us. He's part of the team. We miss him here. I hope everything works out."
During his tenure in Texas, Hamilton endured public, alcohol-related relapses in both 2009 and 2012, and news of his latest indiscretion evoked a heartfelt response from one of his most prominent former teammates.
"I feel bad for the guy," Michael Young told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. "This is something I can't relate to but as a friend and teammate I want the best for Josh and his life. He's got little girls at home I know he wants to be there for. It's a difficult situation. All you can do is hope for the best. Hopefully he's got good people around him that are going to help him get through it."