Scioscia and the Angels organization “feel that there’s really no clarity if he’s getting the help he needs. That’s a major concern. Hopefully the frustration will start to evaporate as Josh gets through his first physical rehab of getting his shoulder where it needs to be,” the manager said In an interview Friday morning with MLB Network Radio.
MORE: MLB takes Angels’ side | Hamilton contract language helps Angels?
As for that shoulder, Scioscia said, “He feels pretty good.” Scioscia met with Hamilton on Wednesday after the Angels landed in Houston for a series with the Astros.
Still, the initial prognosis was for Hamilton to be out six to eight weeks, but it has been more than 10 now, and, Scioscia said, Hamilton has thus far only been able to hit off a tee.
Hamilton, who has been rehabbing in Houston since his surgery Feb. 4, self-reported a relapse involving drug and alcohol use that month. An arbitrator ruled that he did not violate his drug treatment program and could not be disciplined by Major League Baseball.
The Angels, who along with MLB have been involved in a war of words with the players union over Hamilton’s contract, still seem to have no idea when he will return to the field.
“We’ve got to see when he’s able to get on the field and play baseball,” Scioscia said in the interview. “There are some things that are open-ended. There is a natural frustration that comes with the uncertainty.”
