Rangers' Hamilton lands on DL for 3rd time this season
Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton is headed back to the disabled list.
The 34-year-old was placed on the 15-day DL on Thursday with left knee inflammation, retroactive to Aug. 16. It's the third time Hamilton has been on the DL this season.
"If I could play through it, I would be out there right now," Hamilton told reporters Wednesday. "If I went out there right now, we would be back where we were four days ago: swollen or worse."
Hamilton had been held out of the lineup the last four games and initially hoped he could avoid another DL stint.
"It's difficult to put the finger on what it is," Hamilton said. "Structurally, the ACL and all that stuff is OK. It feels pretty good when I'm getting treatment, but when I stand up and put weight on it, it locks up again. It's just weird."
After recovering from shoulder surgery during the start of the season, Hamilton made his season debut in late May, only to be sidelined seven games later after suffering a strained left hamstring.
Since his acquisition from the Los Angeles Angels, Hamilton is hitting .254/.296/.430 with six home runs and 21 RBIs across 38 games.
The recently acquired Will Venable will take Hamilton's spot on the 25-man roster.