News | Rays

Hamilton is suspended

Penalty seems to confirm that drugs are responsible for troubles of Rays' former top pick.

By MARC TOPKIN
Published February 18, 2004

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ST. PETERSBURG - Troubled Devil Rays outfielder Josh Hamilton has been suspended 30 days and fined an undisclosed sum for multiple violations of baseball's drug policy.

The discipline handed down Tuesday by Major League Baseball is the first official confirmation that Hamilton's problems, which led to him missing most of last season, are drug-related. The severity of the punishment indicates Hamilton has tested positive for at least one of baseball's banned substances more than once.

Under the rules of MLB's Joint Drug Treatment and Prevention Program, a player suspended for more than 25 days has failed at least two drug tests after being entered into the program and was using a "prohibited substance" deemed by MLB more severe than marijuana, such as cocaine. Under the rules, players cannot be suspended for use or possession of marijuana.

He was also fined up to $25,000, although the exact amount was not revealed.

Hamilton, who told the Times last month he was looking forward to rejoining the team in spring training, did not return telephone messages Tuesday. Neither did his parents or his agent, Casey Close. MLB officials had no further comment, and the Rays released a statement saying only "the organization is not in a position to make any further statement concerning this issue."

Hamilton, 22, will be eligible for reinstatement March 19, although his return is not automatic. He would have to make it through the 30 days without any positive tests, and he would continue to be subjected to urine tests beyond that, possibly for years. Discipline is progressive, with a third failure leading to a suspension of 50-74 days and a fourth infraction drawing at least a one-year suspension.

Even though Hamilton has not played in the major leagues, he is subject to MLB rules because he is on the Rays' 40-man roster. Suspensions are without pay, but that is moot as players are not paid during spring training.

When the Rays made Hamilton the first pick of the 1999 draft (ahead of Florida pitcher Josh Beckett) and paid him a $3.96-million bonus, they expected him to be a star by now. Considered by their scouts to have immense raw talent, more than current starters Carl Crawford or Rocco Baldelli, he was considered as close to can't miss as could be.

But injuries, including a spring training 2001 truck accident, slowed Hamilton's progress through the minor leagues, and his off-field problems have now threatened his career that consists of 251 minor-league games, only 23 as high as the Double-A level.

When asked about the powerful left-hander last week, Rays general manager Chuck LaMar said he was still hopeful Hamilton would develop but made it clear the organization was going forward without him.

"You always hold optimism when you have someone with his God-given talent," LaMar said. "We talk a lot about Carl Crawford and Rocco Baldelli, Aubrey Huff, Delmon Young, B.J. Upton. Josh Hamilton is physically as talented as any of those young men and would have a chance to be a piece to a championship club.

"However, we've all been around players who've been gifted and not used that talent, and that's where Josh is. He's got to get back on the field and he's got to use that talent. Do we hold hope out? Absolutely. You would, too, with someone with that talent.

"This game is a humbling experience, and you're only as good as the last ballgame you play. He's got to get out there and win a spot on the club."

The first public signs of trouble came last spring when Hamilton showed up late to workouts twice within a week. He was reassigned, not unexpectedly, to minor-league camp March 10 and about 10 days later mysteriously left the team, saying later he went to stay with a friend in Bradenton before returning home to North Carolina.

He resurfaced six weeks later to work out with the Double-A Orlando team, saying in a statement he needed the time away "to address some personal issues and problems" and had "a better support system in place" to go forward, insisting in an interview that he didn't have a drug problem.

He disappeared again nine days later, and the team announced then he would take "a personal leave" for the rest of the season "to address certain private non-baseball matters" and was placed on the restricted list.

He returned to the field in August to work out with the Triple-A Durham team for a few days. At the time Close said it was a "first step" back.

The Rays reinstated him to the 40-man roster in November, agreed to terms with him on a one-year contract and were expecting him in spring training, his No. 31 jersey hanging in a locker at the Naimoli complex.

In his first public comments since May, Hamilton told the Times last month he was hoping to get back on the field and put his troubles, which he refused to disclose, behind him.

"Put it like this: There's things I've worked past and I'm still working on to keep in the past, and just leave it at that right now," Hamilton said.

During the Jan. 22 interview at his home, he said getting back in a baseball environment would help him deal with his off-field issues.

"That would be real good," he said. "That will be the best thing, for me to stay busy."

Last week, he told the Times by telephone he was still hopeful of participating in the first full-squad workout Friday.

"I haven't heard anything," Hamilton said. "I'm just chilling. I'm still working out and still hitting, but I'm just waiting."

The official word came late Tuesday afternoon in a two-sentence statement from MLB:

"Tampa Bay Devil Rays outfielder Josh Hamilton has been suspended and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball for violation of the League's Joint Drug Treatment and Prevention Program, it was announced today.

"Hamilton will not be eligible for reinstatement from the suspension until Friday, March 19, 2004."

There was no indication from MLB as to what, if any, type of treatment Hamilton would undergo or whether he would attend a residential rehab clinic.

[Last modified February 18, 2004, 03:28:46]

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