The Texas Rangers are currently fighting for a Wild Card spot with about a month to go in the 2025 MLB season. Recently, the team honored a former player, but fans had something to say about that. Last week before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Josh Hamilton was presented with a Rangers Hall of Fame jacket. Plus, he threw out the first pitch. Hamilton, who’s now in his early 40s, was inducted into the Rangers Hall of Fame in 2019. However, the reaction to the news was mixed among fans. The main concern fans expressed was his past off-field issues, including his struggles with drugs and alcohol. Despite the reaction from fans, the Rangers seemingly defended their decision to honor a player who became an essential part of the franchise. He has been retired from baseball since 2019, which leads me to sharing my thoughts about him.

I have no personal issues with Josh Hamilton. When he first debuted in Major League Baseball, I saw great potential in him. His story was tragic, yet inspiring. I never made fun of his struggles, because I felt sorry for him. Sometimes, we have to be able to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes in order to empathize their trials and tribulations. Josh Hamilton had immaculate talent, but it’s sad that he fell from grace. Nonetheless, he’s still one of my favorite Texas Rangers players to this day. I included him on my list of the best Rangers players of the last quarter century, which I’ll include a link to it down below. No one is a perfect person and we all go through difficult challenges. However, we have the ability to make our lives better for ourselves. Josh Hamilton’s story is an example of that. There was no denying that he was talented and was part of the Rangers’ 2010 and 2011 World Series runs. Even though the team fell short of a World Series title twice, he is still loved by many Rangers fans.

Josh Hamilton had always been open and honest about his struggles. When he was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999, he had a bright future ahead of him. Unfortunately, his life would take a 180 degree turn by dealing with numerous injuries and substance abuse. He didn’t make his MLB debut until 2007 with the Cincinnatti Reds. A year later, he was traded to the Rangers, which his career would take a positive turn. Hamilton was traded to the Los Angeles Angels, then returned to the Rangers in 2015 before officially calling it a career. As I’ve stated earlier, I’m very sympathetic of his plight. Sadly, many baseball fans don’t feel sorry for Josh Hamilton, because he had potential of having a thriving career, only for him to mess that up, due to his drug and alcohol use. Plus, the jokes about it that followed. I understood why the Rangers decided to honor Josh Hamilton. It was because he was one of the most important players to have ever made a huge impact on fans and the organization. I defend and approve of this kind gesture from the Rangers. It shows that fans haven’t forgotten about him. Early in Hamilton’s career, he shared his testimony through I Am Second about how he found God, among other things. I Am Second is a platform for Christian athletes, actors, artists, and so on to share their faith. Those people include former Dallas Cowboys player Jason Witten, Colt McCoy, and even Clayton Kershaw, which I’ve written numerous stories about on Vocal. If you haven’t seen Josh Hamilton’s I Am Second story, you can search for it on YouTube or their website. Will Josh Hamilton be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame? It’ll be a longshot, but as the saying goes: Never say never. If that were to happen in the future, I would vote for him to be in Cooperstown.

What are your thoughts about Josh Hamilton? Did you agree or disagree with the Rangers honoring him? Finally, do you think that he’s Baseball Hall of Fame worthy? Sound off in the comment section below. If you have read this story and liked it, give it a like and subscribe to my page on here. Also, follow me on my socials. Finally, please send me a one-off tip at the end of this story to support my work as I continue to write and publish more stories.

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