How Good Can Josh Hamilton of the Cincinnati Reds Be?
Question by wrepete1951: How good can Josh Hamilton of the Cincinnati Reds be?
He’s gotten off to a very good start despite missing the last three years due to a drug problem. To watch him, you’d swear he hasn’t missed a beat. I just fear that he will fall back on drugs again and blow it all. Remember, Steve Howe of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He never was able to beat it.
Best answer:
Answer by Mets4Life
Josh Hamiliton was a star prospect for the D-Rays I believe.
Due to his drug problem’s, which you stated he’s got into trouble and haven’t gotten much playing time.
He has ressurrected his carreer in Cinncy where he’s splitting time with some players.
He’s a solid player if he gets playing time and doesn’t get into trouble.
Hamilton is a 5-tool guy.
Elijah Dukes, for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays suffered the same problem.
Answer by Jeffrey S
He can be GREAT! During spring training, we kept hearing how scouts were raving about his all-around play, and that he had amazing bat speed and plate coverage. What is unbelievable, is that he had played only a handful of games SINCE 2002!! I am not sure he even played in Double-A, and if he did it was just a few games. Last year, Hamilton played in the New York-Penn league, which is Low A ball, rookie league.
He missed all those years, and games, and never lost his skills, it is mind-boggling. Not only is he playing well, but in the majors! I am really happy for him, it’s one of the few good stories we have heard lately. He is still young enough to have a long career, and I hope he is able to put his troubles behind him.
Art Therapy Session: Using Art to Overcome Addiction — When seeking to overcome a drug or alcohol addiction, art therapy can be an incredibly powerful tool. Regardless of what artistic skill level you may have, t…
Tags: new york, drug problem, steve howe
You never can tell what’s in a man’s character. All you can do is hope for the best. Let’s hope he appreciates how lucky he is to get a second chance.
http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/AllMyRedlegs/
I guess we’ll have to see how he will hold up for a full season, after coming back from 3 years of drug addiction and family problems. I think he might put up respectable numbers despite splitting time with Freel in CF. As long, as he can put this thing behind him, he’ll do fine.
The word on Hamilton, is that the kid from inception into baseball was the closest thing to “the natural” that scouts had ever seen. They’ve marvel at his raw talents & natural skills. To be away from baseball for that long & come back & still have the ability he’s shown is remarkable. His ability is & never has been the question, he at 25 is still capable of a remarkable career. With the right support & success maybe he can forge ahead & be as good as all the scouts have said,,time will tell..its a great story but its up to him to write the ending…
well living in cincy i get to watch him every night on tv. whether he pinch hits or starts in the outfield. im telling you the guy is a beast. watch him hit BP…he delivers monster blast after monster blast. i wanna say he was the number one overall pick in the 99 draft and since then been a heroin addict. my hats off to him for breaking that addiction and coming back to baseball. its funny cause his wife keeps all the money and gives him an allowance to go out and spend…which i guess is good so he can’t get pulled back in the drug world. he’s got great mentors in cincy like griffey and dunn. they guy looks like he’s been in the league for 5 or 6 years. great stroke, power to opposite field and as someone said earlier a 5 tool player. the reds need to move dunn to first and start griffey, freel and hamilton in the outfield. just remember he can still get rookie of the year!!!
As talented as Ken Griffey Jr. was in his prime if he keeps his head on straight!
I think Hamilton will be great as long as he stays clean. He has gotten off to a great start. I mean his first major league hit was a home run. In yesterdays game they put Freel at 3B so they could have both bats in the lineup. I can see that happening a lot more frequently. Look at the power and speed that those two had in the 1-2 combo. Hamilton is here to stay in Cincy.
Well, both Rocco Baldelli and Aubrey Huff say that Josh Hamilton is the most talented baseball player that they ever seen. Not just hat they have played with or against, EVER SEEN!!!!!!!
He is a superb player
Have faith and he will be fine..I am sure they have tests set up and counseling available to him..I am sure there are mandatory measures included in his comeback. Just have a little faith my man….all will be fine!