Texas Rangers All Star outfielder Josh Hamilton has found himself in the midst of photo scandal worthy of a Hollywood starlet.
Hamilton, whose struggles with drugs and alcohol have been well-documented, made headlines when he found God and became the poster boy for other recovering addicts, saying he had been clean since 2005 with the help of his wife Katie, his three daughters, organization and support group.
So why are pictures of the 28-year-old drunk, shirtless and in provocative poses with three young women popping up all over the internet?
The raunchy photos, taken at an Arizona bar in January, 2008, were posted Saturday on Deadspin. Hamilton held a press conference the same day, acknowledging the validity of the photos.
“I’m embarrassed about it, personally, for the Rangers, for my wife, my children and my family,” Hamilton said before Saturday’s Rangers-Angels game. “I’m not perfect. It’s an ongoing struggle, and it’s real. It’s amazing how these things can creep back in. But I am human and I have struggles.”
“As soon as it happened, I called my support staff — Katie, the organization and MLB — and told them what happened. I was open and honest about it. People with an addiction can make a mistake.”
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said they are not going to allow the incident to become a distraction for the rest of the season.
View Josh Hamilton Deadspin photos, and photos of Josh Hamilton’s wife, Katie Hamilton, below.
View all 12 photos at Deadspin.