Major League Baseball

Decision on Angels' Hamilton expected to come 'shortly after' Opening Day

Published Apr. 3, 2015 1:23 a.m. ET

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When Josh Hamilton will return to the Angels is still unclear, but a decision won't be made by Opening Day, according to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. 

Will there be a suspension?

Hamilton was never with the team during spring training, nor is he with the Angels at Angel Stadium for this three-game exhibition series with the Dodgers. The Angels open the regular season Monday in Seattle. 

Manfred, when asked by Sirius XM in an interview if a Hamilton decision would come before Opening Day as was previously expected, said: "shortly after, probably," via Yahoo! Sports.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Hamilton -- who has previously violated MLB's drug policy -- wouldn't be ready by Opening Day anyway. Hamilton had shoulder surgery on Feb. 4 and is still rehabbing and likely wouldn't be expected back before May. Then, there's a possible suspension, too.  He has yet to do any baseball activities. 

"We're going to take it one step at a time," Scioscia said. "Josh isn't ready to play baseball right now. We're just business as usual. You can't answer questions until you're confronted with exactly they're going to be. We'll see the first step here shortly and we'll see what we're dealing with."

Asked what Hamilton's state of mind is, Scioscia said: "He's trying to rehab. It's not fun rehabbing. Rehabbing his shoulder surgery. He's probably along the timeline. He's not really in baseball activities yet where we'd say he's close to coming back and playing. It's a process."

The Angels don't have a locker for Hamilton yet. There are 38 players with the Angels now, but the roster will be trimmed to 25 by Opening Day. That means a crowded locker room until a dozen or so players who aren't making the team are sent down to the minor leagues. Also, the Angels have four players who will start the season on the disabled list -- Tyler Skaggs, Garrett Richards, Cory Rasmus and Hamilton. 

"... You can't plan on using him if you don't have him," Scioscia said. "We're going to take this one step at a time."

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