Josh Hamilton

Joshua Holt Hamilton, born May 21, 1981, is an American former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball primarily as an outfielder. His career took off with the Texas Rangers, bringing the team consecutive American League pennants in 2010 and 2011. His exceptionally bright spots included titles such as a five-time All-Star, three Silver Slugger Awards, and the honor of being named the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2010. Additionally, he scored major heights in the game, bagging an AL batting championship and an AL RBI title. Notably, Hamilton was chosen as the first overall pick in the 1999 MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Nonetheless, his road was not entirely smooth, as a car accident in 2001 and struggles with drug addiction slightly derailed his career. Eventually, in 2007, making his MLB debut with the Cincinnati Reds, he began to carve his niche in the game. Later, he was traded to the Texas Rangers, having a breakout season in 2008 and helping the team reach the World Series in 2010 and 2011. Despite sporadic injuries and performance challenges, including a stint with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and a drug relapse, Hamilton returned to the Rangers for the 2015 season before injuries ended his career. Hamilton's life and career were not without personal lows, given his history with drugs and alcohol and legal issues related to allegations of domestic violence.