Rangers notes: Hamilton begins rehab in Frisco; Beltre returns with pain

Josh Hamilton begins a rehab assignment with Double A Frisco on Wednesday morning and hopes to be back in a Rangers uniform for the series opener at Baltimore on Monday.

Hamilton has been on the disabled list since June 4 with a left hamstring strain with a strained left hamstring.

He’ll play this week with the RoughRiders at 11 a.m. Wednesday and then join Triple A Round Rock in New Orleans for a game Thursday. He’ll travel with the Express for a weekend series in Omaha and be used mostly as a designated hitter. Hamilton said he’s ready to return but the club prefers he not play on the artificial turf in Toronto, which can put additional strain on a player’s legs.

“It’s probably a blessing in disguise,” said Hamilton, who admits getting extra at-bats in the minors is a good plan. “You don’t truly ever know until you get in game situations.”

He’s been working out the past week while the team was on the road. He had an MRI exam Tuesday but the results were not known before the game.

“We’ll take it day to day, see how he plays and how he comes out on the back end and shows up the next day,” manager Jeff Banister said. “I don’t see that it would be any sooner than [Monday]. It’s about logging the at-bats.”

Hamilton could eventually play center field, Banister said, if necessary. Right now, Leonys Martin doesn’t have a backup with Delino DeShields still a couple weeks from coming off the DL with his own left hamstring strain.

“I don’t see it out of the realm of possibility, given his experience,” Banister said.

Beltre is back

Adrian Beltre’s return from the DL Tuesday came much sooner than expected. Beltre (sprained left thumb) swung about 50 times in the cages in Chicago on Saturday and again on Sunday. Swinging was quite painful, said Beltre, who was trying to find a grip that didn’t hurt.

“We really felt like it turned a corner,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “Today, we felt like it took another step.”

Beltre will have to play through considerable pain when he’s swinging a bat, however. Beltre feels a sting when he swings but there is no lingering pain, Daniels said. Most important, Beltre can’t damage it worse by playing. To make room for Beltre, right-hander Jon Edwards was optioned to Triple A Round Rock.

Beltre, besides being one of the best defensive third basemen in the league, is a much-needed right-handed bat in the middle of the Rangers’ left-heavy lineup.

“It speaks for itself. I don’t pretend to think he’s 100 percent; he’s going to be dealing with it,” Daniels said. “Whether we waited another week or have him take a few games on a minor league assignment he was going to be dealing with it anyway.”

Beltre’s toughness will be tested but he can’t make the injury worse.

“It’s going to hurt. It’s not going to be totally pain free. He’s aware of it. It’s manageable,” Daniels said. “The medical staff feels like he can’t hurt it further.”

Although the veteran is playing at less than 100 percent, Daniels hasn’t modified his performance expectations for Beltre.

“I don’t think so, no. He’s a freak. Freaky players do freaky things,” he said.

Choo sidelined

Shin-Soo Choo did not play Tuesday after hurting his back while stretching during Monday’s off day. The club said he was out with back spasms and isn’t expected to miss much time.

“I don’t know if it will be tomorrow or the weekend, but it’s not expected to be long term,” Daniels said.

Holland honing in

Left-hander Derek Holland (left shoulder strain) is throwing from 120 feet and expects to be cleared to throw off a mound after an MRI scheduled for July 3.

“We’re going very slow, not by my choice,” Holland said. “After the MRI we’re hitting the gas pedal.”

This story was originally published June 23, 2015 at 5:55 PM with the headline "Rangers notes: Hamilton begins rehab in Frisco; Beltre returns with pain."