The playing was the easy part for can't miss prospect Josh Hamilton, who battled injuries and drug addiction on his way to The Show.
His story reads like something out of the movies - a good looking, young high school baseball star is drafted first overall in the Major League draft. The sky appears to be the limit. Scouts rave about his five-tool skills: Hits for average with power; speed on the bases; bullet arm; and tracks down everything on defence. He signs a multi-million dollar contract with more up-front money than the average Joe will earn in their entire lives. It seems superstardom is pre-ordained, as if the baseball Gods themselves sat down to pen the script.
But, as is the American way, a funny thing happens on his way to becoming one of the legends because the more fans and the media build up players, the more they enjoy one's fall from grace. This is where the story of Josh Hamilton fits in.
Drafted No. 1 by Tampa Bay in the June 1999 draft, Hamilton was one of just 22 high school players/pitchers taken with the first overall pick, joining the select company of Darryl Strawberry, Ken Griffey Jr., Chipper Jones and Alex Rodriguez. His prep school numbers were mind-boggling in his draft year: .529 batting average (37 for 70) with 13 home runs; 35 RBI; 20 stolen bases in just 25 games. And thus the journey toward legend began. To many, he was a real-life version of the fictional slugger Roy Hobbs, Robert Redford's character in the movie "The Natural."
No one foresaw what lay ahead in the professional ranks. Despite playing against a higher level of competition, Hamilton just kept rolling along with his five tools on display for everyone to see. During his second season, however, things began to unravel, mostly because of a number of injuries which included a torn meniscus in his right knee, back problems, muscle strains and surgeries to his elbow and shoulder. With the adversity and the pain, Hamilton became dependent on drugs, which he started taking during his down time while injured and hanging out at tattoo parlours. He would ultimately miss three full seasons (2003-05) after failing MLB drug tests administered. He reportedly went into drug rehab eight different times and attempted suicide on three occasions.
But instead of just becoming another statistic and left discarded on the boulevard of broken dreams, Hamilton finally made the journey to the majors, first last season with the Cincinnati Reds and now with the Texas Rangers. This weekend, I was able to finally see Hamilton in action with my own eyes and I think his abilities match the legend.
Nevermind his athletic prowess; that he was able to get his life together is most impressive. As someone whose life has been touched by alcohol and drug addiction - I lost my oldest brother David to drugs and his subsequent suicide in 2003 - I applaud anyone who has the intestinal fortitude and willpower to beat what has become an epidemic in society.
What makes this story even more heartwarming is that Hamilton didn't lose his vast skills to the social disease. I'm sure he battles his demons every day. I hope that tomorrow is a little easier than today and he can keep his life together until the end of his days. Every time that I pick up a newspaper or go through the box scores on-line, I'll check to see how Josh Hamilton, the man, is doing. The baseball playing part of the equation will take care of itself.
ON THE SUBJECT OF COMEBACKS
Who would have thought that one year less a day since Blue Jays closer B.J. Ryan last threw a pitch in a Major League game and 11 months removed from 'Tommy John' surgery, he would be striding in from the left-field bullpen at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington to pick up an extra-inning save. And it wasn't your ordinary three-up, three-down lockout. After giving up a leadoff triple, Ryan set down the next three hitters. Ryan never broke 90 mph on any of his 12 pitches - nine fastballs, one cutter and one slider - but his motion looked free and easy and his post-game excitement gave a jolt to the team and its fans. If the Jays are to truly contend this season, the return of Ryan and Gold Glove third baseman Scott Rolen - probably within the next two to three weeks - is paramount.
Injuries robbed the Jays of a lot of their stars last season. Perhaps this good news might mean that the worm has turned and whatever bad karma that seems to be dogging this team has finally lifted.
