MLB: Josh Hamilton Reportedly Suffers Another Relapse With Alcohol in Quest To Remain Sober

Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, who has battled drug and alcohol addictions, had a relapse with alcohol this week, according to a source.

The Rangers said through a team spokesman that they are “aware of a situation but have no further comment at this time.”

It was still unclear exactly what circumstances led Hamilton to suffer his relapse, which was reported by The Dallas Morning News earlier Thursday, but he has battled to stay sober since an incident in a Tempe, Ariz., bar a little more than three years ago.

Then, he was photographed drinking with several women and those pictures went viral about seven months later. Hamilton spoke to the media about it at that time and apologized, saying: “I hate that this happened.”

When that occurred, Hamilton immediately called the Rangers and MLB. He passed a drug test shortly thereafter and went through league-sanctioned counseling. Hamilton also made sure his support system was fully in place, including having Johnny Narron, his “accountability partner” at the time, with him at spring training and through the rest of the season.

Hamilton, 30, was banned from baseball in 2003 for drug and alcohol use while in the Tampa Bay organization. He was reinstated in 2006 and is drug tested three times a week.

Right now, Hamilton and the Rangers are still in the process of finding a new “accountability partner” after Narron took the job as the Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach. Hamilton’s father-in-law, Michael Dean Chadwick, was planning on taking over that role for Narron but didn’t want to leave his teenage daughter as she gets closer to finishing high school.

The Rangers have expressed an interest in signing Hamilton to a long-term extension, though both sides agreed that if a deal wasn’t in place by the time spring training starts later this month that they wouldn’t talk during the season to avoid any kind of distraction.

The 2010 AL MVP has worked to avoid even the smell of alcohol, something his teammates have respected. They have even catered their postseason celebrations for him (and former teammate C.J. Wilson who also didn’t want to be around alcohol) by having ginger ale and water showers before breaking out the champagne after winning a playoff series.

Hamilton said in August 2009, when discussing his last relapse, that it was the first drink he’d had since Oct. 6, 2005, when he vowed to stay sober. Drugs and alcohol helped delay Hamilton’s track to the big leagues and despite being the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1999 by the Tampa Bay Rays, he didn’t make his major league debut until 2007 with the Cincinnati Reds.

The Rangers traded for Hamilton before the 2008 season, sending right-handed pitcher Edinson Volquez and left-handed pitcher Danny Ray Herrera to the Reds for the outfielder.

WRITTEN BY Richard Durrett covers the Rangers for ESPNDallas.com & FULL STORY HERE

Follow Richard Durrett on Twitter: @espn_durrett