ARLINGTON, Texas -- Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton was released from a local hospital on Saturday morning, one day after checking in and receiving fluids to help treat an intestinal virus.
Hamilton plans on coming to the park on Sunday to work out, but won't play in the final two games of this series with the Houston Astros. He is scheduled to fly with the team to San Diego and is expected to be ready to play Monday against the Padres.
The Rangers believe Hamilton, 31, likely picked up the virus from his wife and children, who have been ill recently. The club does disinfect the clubhouse on a regular basis, but do not think Hamilton's virus has anything to do with stomach issues that have bothered several players over the past few weeks, including Derek Holland and Nelson Cruz.
Texas called up Triple-A outfielder Leonys Martin on Friday to take Hamilton's place.
Hamilton missed three games in Toronto earlier this season (April 30 through May 2) because of an upper respiratory illness. It was something that bothered him later in May, too, even as he hit a key extra-inning home run to help the club during a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays. He rested May 28 vs. Seattle, but returned to the lineup the next day. Saturday will be the sixth game he's missed in 2012 and all of them are because of illness.
The 2010 AL MVP is batting .330 with 22 homers and 62 RBIs in 60 games this season. He was the AL player of the month in April and May, but hasn't been able to keep that momentum going into June so far. He's batting .196 with one homer and five RBIs this month.