Josh Hamilton is considered day-to-day after leaving last night’s game against the Rockies with left groin tightness. As Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News notes, the good news is that it is not in the same area where he required sports hernia surgery last November.
The Rangers expect Hamilton to be ready for Opening Day against the White Sox next Friday, but they also conceded that he might “need a couple of days” to recover. The 30-year-old has averaged just 114 games over the past three seasons and is entering a contract year, so there’s no reason to risk a potential setback.
Hamilton has made four straight starts in center field, which is a sign that he’ll likely be shuffled back and forth between left field once again. The Rangers would obviously prefer to keep him in left as much as possible to avoid the wear and tear on his body, but neither Craig Gentry or Julio Borbon has made a compelling argument to start on a regular basis and Leonys Martin isn’t ready for the majors yet. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Rangers eventually go outside the organization for a part-time center fielder.
