Texas Rangers GM: Josh Hamilton likely returning next week

Texas general manager Jon Daniels says that Josh Hamilton is progressing in his rehab stint and will likely return next week

Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said that outfielder Josh Hamilton will likely make his return to the major leagues sometime next week.

Hamilton, who was traded last month from the Los Angeles Angels, is on the 15-day disabled list as he recovers from shoulder surgery he had in February.

The Rangers (16–22) start a nine-game road trip in Boston on Tuesday, with stops in New York and Cleveland before returning home to play the Red Sox on May 28.

"Last week he was going through the sore back and heavy legs and all the normal stuff," Daniels said, according to the Associated Press. "This is, we're March 5, March 10 for him, and then I think just offensively, getting his timing down. ... I'd err on the side of giving him some additional time."

Hamilton, the 2010 AL MVP and a five-time All-Star, reported to extended spring training the day after he was traded, spending nearly a week with Triple A Round Rock before reporting to Double A Frisco last Saturday.

• TAYLER: Marlins fire manager Mike Redmond

''The report was good - not so much the box score, but felt like his swings are better, his takes are better, his at-bats were better. He's made progress,'' Daniels said. ''I don't put a whole lot into, it's kind of like on March 10 evaluating a spring training game. You don't want to overdo it.”

The team said it will re-evaluate Hamilton again after a couple of games with Frisco this week.

- Scooby Axson