Imagine being thirty four years old, you’ve made over $60 million since 2007, you’re a former AL MVP, batting champion and have multiple AL Championship appearances on your resume. Now imagine making one mistake that put all of that in jeopardy. Josh Hamilton has played for four major league teams over his career and now finds himself a day removed from his return to Arlington in a Texas Rangers uniform.

Josh Hamilton was a top prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays organization after he was drafted in 1999 until drug addiction grabbed him in 2001. He was suspended from baseball for two years from 2004 to 2006 and found his way in 2007 with counseling and a strong network of support. Sober, Hamilton put together an MVP season in 2010 when he hit .359 with a .633 slugging percentage, 32 home runs and 100 RBIs. Before that outstanding season Hamilton had signed his first multi-million dollar contract with the Texas Rangers. Following World Series appearances in 2010 and 2011 as well as a wild card appearance in 2012, Hamilton was granted free agency and signed a five year, $114.33 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. A disappointing statistical year in 2013 compounded with an injury laden 2014 led to a sense of desperation heading into the 2015 season though there was reason for optimism as this is a former MVP on a team full of talent.

Any optimism that once existed was ripped away on February 25, 2015 when news broke that he had admitted to Major League Baseball that he had had a relapse involving cocaine. Hamilton took himself to the MLB and openly admitted to his relapse, it was not discovered through investigation. Because Hamilton’s previous offenses occurred during his time as a minor leaguer, this would be considered Hamilton’s first offense. The MLB and new commissioner Rob Manfred decided not to discipline Hamilton and instead get him the help that he needed. This decision, paired with Hamilton’s relapse led to public ridicule of the MLB and Hamilton himself including from Angels’ General Manager Jerry Dipoto. Dipoto was quoted as saying, “The Angels have serious concerns about Josh’s conduct, health and behavior and we are disappointed that he has broken an important commitment which he made to himself, his family, his teammates and our fans. We are going to do everything possible to assure he receives proper help for himself and for the well-being of his family.” Many of Hamilton’s Angels teammates found displeasure with their general manager’s comments as did many members of the media and general public. In late April it was announced that the Angels had traded Josh Hamilton to the Texas Rangers, the team where he had had most of his Major League success.

Josh Hamilton is a person in need, one who requires help and care, not criticism and ridicule from those who are supposed to support him. When I head Jerry Dipoto’s comments I was in total disgust, I couldn’t believe that the GM of the team would throw Hamilton under the bus and try to mitigate that by throwing in at the last moment that he was more worried about helping a man that NEEDS HELP. I totally agree with Major League Baseball for not punishing Hamilton but instead focusing on getting a man that needs help help. I am disgusted with those who believe he should be punished instead of helped and I wish him nothing but the best with the rest of his career. He didn’t hurt the game, he really only hurt himself. Drug addiction is not a game and the drugs he used did not enhance performance in any way. Penalize him then, get him help now.

– Brian R.