Hamilton Expected to Return in Baltimore

Hamilton returning from DL at site of arguably his greatest game

In his brief second go-around as a Texas Ranger, Josh Hamilton has performed better than anyone could've expected.

The veteran outfielder will make his second return to the Rangers this week โ€” presumably Monday โ€” in Baltimore when he's scheduled to come off the disabled list. His reunion with the Rangers lasted just seven games before he strained his hamstring, and in those seven games, he scored five runs and drove in five with a couple of homers.

But on one day back in May 2012 at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Hamilton clubbed four homers in one game โ€” one of just a select group of MLBers to ever accomplish the feat โ€” and he actually collected five hits on the day. His fifth was a frozen-rope double off the wall, a hit that with a little more lift could've been a record fifth bomb. It was seen as one of the best games at the plate in baseball history and pretty much was the end of a dominant opening month and a half that made Hamilton the leading MVP candidate at that time.

After that, it was all downhill for Hamilton who would then collapse down the second half of the season and sign his big contract with the Angels that following winter.

Now, Hamilton is returning to the site of his greatest game in just the nick of time, with the Rangers searching desperately for offense, especially from their outfield that features struggling versions of Shin-Soo Choo, Leonys Martin and prospect Joey Gallo.

The last time we saw Hamilton on the field in a Rangers uniform, he was hitting a pinch-hit, walkoff double to cap a stellar homestand for the fan favorite. Now, the Rangers hope he can pick up where he left off in a place that has been kind to him in his career.

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