Rangers’ Hamilton out again because of sore left knee

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton did not start for the second consecutive game because of left knee soreness Thursday against the Twins.

He’ll see team physician Keith Meister and have an MRI scan on Friday to determine if it’s anything more serious.

Since joining the club on May 25, injuries have kept Hamilton out of the lineup for nearly half the past 69 games including Thursday.

“Obviously, it’s a situation where the guy is banged up,” Banister said before Thursday’s game. “If we can get through the game and not use him, that would be great.

“If he is able to hit off the bench and there is a need, I would be OK with it. But we would like to have a game where we don’t need him.”

Hamilton has been dogged by recurring nagging injuries, many on the left side of his body, including a left hamstring strain, strains to his left quad and groin, and now his left knee.

The frustrating part for Hamilton, he said, is the fact that once one injury heals, another crops up.

“I’ve had to wrap those muscles [the quad and hamstring] and when those aren’t allowed to work like they should work, it hasn’t kept the stress off the knee,” he said.

“It feels more unstable than normal. The hamstring and the quad have not kept the stress off the knee.”

Since May 25, Hamilton has played in 36 of 69 games. That includes the entire month of June when he was on the disabled list with a left hamstring injury.

“I just feel like this year, when I’m close to being where I want to be, something else comes up and that’s the frustrating part,” Hamilton said. “Whether it’s right when the swing starts to feel good and I strain something.”

The obvious reason for the nagging injuries is the lack of a spring training.

Hamilton was recovering from a right shoulder surgery in the off-season and was not invited to work out with the Los Angeles Angels during spring training after failing a drug test.

He was traded to the Rangers in late April after working out on his own.

“I think that definitely makes a difference. Being one place in the off-season and working out and training like you need to and then roll into a camp and continue that,” Hamilton said. “There’s progression that your body needs as far as the innings and at-bats.”

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels agreed.

“I think it’s a combination of factors,” Daniels said. “The lack of spring training factors in. It can only help.”

Plus, Daniels added, a full off-season working with Rangers strength and conditioning coach Jose Vazquez will also make a difference.

Hamilton worked hard on his own to prepare to join the Rangers this spring, Daniels said, but “it’s not substitute for having a full off-season with Jose. We’ll see how he his when Jose has his hands on him for a full winter.”

Martinez optioned

Nick Martinez was optioned to Triple A Round Rock to make room for Chi Chi Gonzalez, who was added to start Thursday.

Martinez has struggled since June after a strong April and May. In 11 starts since June 3, his ERA is over 6.00. It was 2.03 through his first 10 starts. He was charged with four earned runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings on Wednesday.

“I still view him as a promising young starter,” Daniels said.

“It’s hard to go wire to wire in the major leagues. We’re going to need him again this year.”

This story was originally published August 13, 2015 at 11:20 AM with the headline "Rangers’ Hamilton out again because of sore left knee."