Josh Hamilton Hurts Arm After Home Plate Collision

Josh Hamilton will be on the DL for the next eight weeks after breaking his arm in a slide at home plate

The Texas Rangers made it to the World Series last year, but fell short to the San Francisco Giants. After losing Cliff Lee in the offseason to Philadelphia, the Rangers are still continuing their success and have jumped out to a 9-3, which is good enough to lead their division and the whole American League. Also the Rangers have scored the most runs in the American League, with 66, and much of that is due to Josh Hamilton.

Hamilton was the 2010 American League MVP, as well as the ALCS MVP, and a Silver Slugger. Hamilton started off this season on the same note that he left off last year. Hamilton is batting .333 with seven runs batted in. He also has a .409 on base percentage which is also in the top half of the league.

Hamilton hit a rough patch though, when on a game vs the Tigers on April 12, Hamilton was sent home by 3rd base coach, Dave Anderson, although the ball was a fly ball pop out that didn't even reach the outfield. The reason Anderson sent Hamilton, was because the catcher wasn't at home, and went to go catch the ball.

Once the ball was caught Hamilton sprinted his 90 feet, and had a head first slide trying to avoid the tag. Not only was he tagged and called out, but Hamilton apparently hurt his arm on the play. After getting it checked out, Hamilton was diagnosed with a small fracture in his humerus bone, in his right arm. Josh will now miss 6-8 weeks healing his arm.

After the game, Hamilton caused some sparks to fly, after calling his coaches decision "stupid".

The Rangers already showed signs of missing their big slugger. Texas was defeated by the Tigers the next day 3-2. Hamilton has apologized to his coach for his remarks. "I was just frustrated, more for getting injured". Said the reigning AL MVP.

Hamilton has been a great story in the MLB. He was a former #1 overall pick in the draft, but faded away from the game for a few years after a struggle with drugs or alcohol. Hamilton came back just a few years ago to play for the Reds. After a comeback season with the Reds in 2008, in only 90 games he had 47 RBI's and 19 home runs, Hamilton signed with the Texas Rangers, where he would get voted to three straight all star games.

Hopefully for Josh, and the Rangers, he can recover from his injury very quickly. He is one of the best players in the game right now, and although the Rangers will probably be able to hold their lead on the Mariners, Angels, and A's, they would love to have Josh Hamilton back as soon as they can.