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Hamilton Hopeful For Weekend Return

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton will make his third rehab appearance on Thursday night for AAA Oklahoma

By Scott M. Crisp

| Thursday, Jul 2, 2009 | Updated 10:30 AM CST

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Despite an injury-plagued first half, Hamilton remains in line to start the All-Star Game with one day of voting left.

Josh Hamilton, who hasn't played since May 31, may return this weekend during the Rangers series with the Tampa Bay Rays.

T.R. Sullivan of mlb.com reported the story on Monday, when Hamilton made his first rehab appearance for the AA Frisco Roughriders. He spent Tuesday with the Rangers as Frisco was off for the AA All-Star Game. On Wednesday, Hamilton traveled to Des Moines to play for AAA Oklahoma.

The 29 year-old went 1-7 in a 14-inning contest as the RedHawks designatd hitter with a single in his fifth at-bat. Thursday night, he will play in the outfield for the team.

Hamilton, who has been out since the end of May with a slight abdominal tear, seems to be a lock for the All-Star Game in two weeks at St. Louis's Busch Stadium.

As of the last update, Hamilton had more than 100,000 votes on the fourth-leading outfielder, the Angels's Torii Hunter. Voting for the game will last just one more day.

Hamilton, along with hometown-favorite Albert Pujols, was also a favorite in the State Farm Home Run Derby fan poll.

The slugger gained national notoriety at last season's derby, when he belted a record 28 home runs (13 in a row) in the first round, only to lose in the finals to Minnesota's Justin Morneau.