Feb. 03--Josh Hamilton will undergo surgery to repair the AC joint in his right shoulder on Wednesday, a procedure that will sideline the Angels left fielder for six to eight weeks and make him doubtful for the start of the 2015 season.
Hamilton, entering the third year of a five-year, $125-million contract, missed most of last September because of right shoulder, chest and rib-cage injuries.
He declared himself fit for the playoffs but went hitless -- often looking overmatched -- in 13 at-bats in a three-game American League division series sweep at the hands of the Kansas City Royals.
Hamilton had been working out and taking batting practice in Angel Stadium and, according to the team, the symptoms he experienced last September resurfaced last week. He could resume baseball activities in three to eight weeks, and a full recovery is estimated at six to eight weeks.
The Angels are counting on a bounce-back year from Hamilton in hopes of easing the loss of veteran second baseman and September cleanup batter Howie Kendrick, who was traded to the Dodgers for top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney in December.
Hamilton, 33, hit .305, averaged 28 homers and 101 RBIs and won 2010 AL most-valuable-player honors during his five seasons (2008-2012) in Texas.
But he's been a bust since signing with the Angels, slumping to a .250 average, 21 homers, 79 RBIs and 158 strikeouts in 2013 and hitting .263 with 10 homers and 44 RBIs during an injury-riddled 2014.
Hamilton gave himself a few extra weeks after the season to heal, but he admitted at a charity bowling event in Anaheim two weekends ago that his right shoulder was not 100%.
His surgery will be performed by Dr. Keith Meister at the Texas Metroplex Institute for Sports Medicine Orthopedics.
Hamilton will miss most of spring training and probably will begin his season on a minor league rehabilitation assignment, likely opening the door for the left-handed-hitting Matt Joyce, acquired from Tampa Bay, and the right-handed-hitting Collin Cowgill to share the left-field job.
