ARLINGTON, Texas– Josh Hamilton will have another surgery on his left knee and not play a game this season for the Texas Rangers.
The 2010 AL MVP and five-time All-Star slugger has already had surgery twice on his left knee the last nine months, along with cortisone shots and even a stem cell and platelet-rich plasma injection during spring training. He played in one game for Double-A Frisco on April 30 before being recalled from his rehab assignment.
Hamilton, on the disabled list all season, got another opinion from Dr. Walt Lowe in Houston. The knee specialist is scheduled to perform another surgery June 8.
General manager Jon Daniels said Monday the season-ending surgery will be different than the previous procedures.
“Physically, he can’t play,” Daniels said. “He’s frustrated.”
Hamilton, who turned 35 on Saturday, is signed through next season. Daniels said Hamilton is fully committed to coming back in 2017.
Daniels said the loss of Hamilton for the season was “not totally unexpected.”
Hamilton had surgery twice on the knee last year. The first was in September, and then he had another operation in October after returning for the end of the regular season and the playoffs.
“Itap been a tough road for Josh,” manager Jeff Banister said. “I know he wants to compete, wants to play, wants to be a part of this and is not able to. … Itap another long road back.”
Texas reacquired Hamilton in a trade last season from the Angels, the team with which the slugger signed a $125 million, five-year deal after leaving the Rangers in free agency following the 2012 season.
