Outfielder Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers, a recovering drug addict, said Friday that he had a relapse that started with "three or four" drinks at a Dallas-area bar this week, apologizing for a "weak moment" and insisting he will try to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Hamilton, 30, said his actions "are mine that hurt a lot of people very close to me."
Hamilton was suspended for more than three years for drug and alcohol use while in the Tampa Bay organization. Hamilton, a former No. 1 draft pick out of Athens Drive High School in Raleigh, N.C., missed the 2004 and 2005 seasons but has become one of the best players in baseball on a team that has won the past two American League pennants. He was the AL MVP in 2010.
But Hamilton had his second known alcohol-related relapse in three years this week, both during the offseason. In January 2009, he drank to excess in a bar in Tempe, Ariz. Before that, Hamilton said he had been sober since Oct. 6, 2005.
Without being specific, Hamilton said his weak moment Monday night came for "personal reasons" with a family member. He said he walked to a restaurant to have dinner and ended up ordering "three or four drinks."
Hamilton said he has not taken any drugs and had no thoughts of doing so. He said he has been tested for drugs twice this week, part of his normal routine. He said he expects to meet soon with Major League Baseball doctors and counselors in New York for an evaluation in his continued recovery.
Hamilton spoke for about 12 minutes without using any prepared notes or taking any questions. Although there were no tears, he struggled with his emotions at times.
"My life in general is based on making the right choices, everything as far as my recovery, as far as my baseball goes, it's all based around my relationship with the Lord," Hamilton said. "And I look at it like that, you all know how hard I play on the field and I give it everything I absolutely have. When I don't do that off the field, I leave myself open for a weak moment."
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