Josh Hamilton Injury: Update on Angels Star's Thumb and Return

Updates from Tuesday, June 3

The Angels confirmed Josh Hamilton's return to the team's roster via its Twitter account:

Updates from Monday, June 2

Orange County Register reporter Jeff Fletcher has the latest on Hamilton:

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When the Angels play their next game, on Tuesday, Josh Hamilton will be back in their lineup.

Hamilton has been out since tearing a ligament in his thumb on a headfirst slide into first base on April8. He then bruised his thumb when he was jammed by an inside pitch in the first game of his rehab assignment on May23.

In order to make room for Hamilton, the Angels optioned right-hander Jarrett Grube a day after he had been called up to the majors for the first time.

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Updates from Sunday, June 1

Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register provides an update on Josh Hamilton's recovery:

Updates from Thursday, May 29

Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register has the latest on Hamilton's status:

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 Josh Hamilton took about 100 swings in the indoor batting cage and said he felt good. He is planning to take batting practice on the field Thursday. He also said he wants to see some game-speed pitching from a machine to try to gauge how his thumb will feel when he mis-hits a ball.

If he passes those tests, he could resume his rehab assignment this weekend.

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Updates from Wednesday, May 28

Orange County Register reporter Jeff Fletcher has an update on Josh Hamilton's status:

Updates from Monday, May 26

Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com has an update on Josh Hamilton's thumb and when he'll start swinging a bat again:  

Updates from Sunday, May 25

After sitting out the last three games, Bill Shaikin of the LA Times has the latest update on Josh Hamilton:

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In the last at-bat of his first game at triple-A Salt Lake on Thursday, Hamilton was jammed by a fastball and experienced discomfort in his surgically repaired left thumb. He has not played since, and Angels Manager Mike Scioscia said the team's medical staff would evaluate him.

The Angels play in Seattle starting Monday. Salt Lake plays in nearby Tacoma starting Tuesday, and Scioscia said the Angels could check Hamilton in Seattle. That would indicate Hamilton probably would not play for Salt Lake on Monday.

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Updates from Friday, May 23

Orange County Register reporter Jeff Fletcher has an update on Hamilton's progress:

Updates from Tuesday, May 20

Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com has the latest on Josh Hamilton as he attempts to make his comeback to the Angels: 

Updates from Friday, May 16

Jim Peltz of the Los Angeles Times provides a statement from Angels manager Mike Scioscia discussing Josh Hamilton's injury status:

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Hamilton took batting practice for the first time since he injured his left thumb and went on the disabled list April 9.

'He's kept himself as close as he can to staying in baseball shape with some of the drills he's done,' Scioscia said, adding that it's hoped Hamilton can start playing rehabilitation games in a week or so.

 

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Updates from Wednesday, May 7

Pedro Moura of the OC Register has the latest on Josh Hamilton's timetable for returning to the Angles lineup:

Updates from Monday, May 5

Pedro Moura of the Orange County Register reports when Josh Hamilton is expected to resume batting practice:

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LF Josh Hamilton (torn ligament in left thumb) is expected to begin taking batting practice Friday at the Angels’ extended spring training facility in Arizona while the team begins a six-game trip in Toronto. 

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Updates from Tuesday, April 29

Pedro Moura of the Orange County Register reports the latest on Hamilton's status: 

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Injured slugger Josh Hamilton (torn left thumb ligament) has had the cast on his left hand removed in favor of a small black splint.

He took one-handed swings Monday and is expected to resume standard baseball activities next week. The initial 6-8 week projection would have him returning between May 23 and June 6, but the Angels are hoping he can beat that.

“He’s a little ahead of the curve, so that’s encouraging,” Scioscia said. “But there’s still work to do.”

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Updates from Monday, April 14

Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com has the latest update on Josh Hamilton's thumb:

Updates from Friday, April 11

Bill Shaikin of the LA Times provides an update on Josh Hamilton's thumb surgery:

Updates from Wednesday, April 9

The Angels have announced Josh Hamilton will require surgery on his injured thumb:

Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times provides a timetable for Hamilton's recovery:

Hamilton briefly commented on today's diagnosis via Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times: 

Yet later in the evening the Angels announced he may not need surgery after all:

Original Text:

The MLB season is only eight games old for the Los Angeles Angels, but they received some bad news during Tuesday’s contest against the division rival Seattle Mariners. 

The team’s official Twitter page updated fans on outfielder Josh Hamilton’s health:

MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez supplied Mike Scioscia's thoughts:

Gonzalez also noted an update on Hamilton's X-ray:

Hamilton was 0-for-3 against the Mariners before leaving the game, but he has gotten off to an impressive start in the opening games of the 2014 season. He is hitting .444 on the year with two home runs, six RBI, six walks and a stolen base. What’s more, his on-base percentage is .545 in the middle of the Angels’ lineup.

While it is far too early in the season to discuss how injuries will impact the pennant race, the fact that Hamilton will miss time after getting off to such a hot start is unfortunate for Los Angeles.

Bob Levey/Getty Images

The team failed to meet expectations last year by missing the playoffs and needs its lineup that features marquee names like Hamilton, Albert Pujols and Mike Trout to consistently produce this season.

Check back for updates as the situation develops.