Josh Hamilton relapse, Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton, who has a well documented addiction to drugs and alcohol that he has battled for years, had a relapse with alcohol this week, the Dallas Morning News reported Thursday.

Hamilton, the 2010 American League Most Valuable Player, drank alcohol in a Dallas-area bar on Monday, according to the Morning News, citing unnamed sources, but the circumstances that led to Hamilton's alcohol use were unclear.

Hamilton has been functioning since late November without Johnny Narron, who has acted as his accountability partner throughout his major-league career before taking a job as the Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach.

In a statement regarding the Hamilton incident, the Rangers said they were “aware of a situation, but we don't have further comment at this time.''

Hamilton had an earlier alcohol-related relapse in January 2009 in Tempe, Ariz. On that occasion, Hamilton told the Rangers, Major League Baseball and his family what he had done. He passed a drug test and took part in a counseling program.

Hamilton can become a free agent after this season, and it's uncertain how this episode will affect the Rangers' interest in signing Hamilton to a long-term extension.

Hamilton, 31, was suspended for more than three years for drug and alcohol use while in the Tampa Bay organization before returning late in the 2006 season with a minor-league club.

He is tested for drug use three times a week.

Since arriving the Major League with the Reds in 2007, Hamilton had been accompanied by Narron, a former amateur coach who was called Hamilton's accountability partner. Narron came with Hamilton to the Rangers, where Narron was also an assistant batting coach.

Narron left the Rangers after last season to become Milwaukee's hitting coach. Hamilton's father-in-law, Michael Dean Chadwick, was scheduled to take Narron's place as Hamilton partner, but Chadwick later decided not to do it because of family issues.


Source: yahoo