Hamilton speaks on life experiences at Tyler church
Brad Thompson
Section: Sports
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Hamilton started his career straight out of high school being the first overall pick in the 1999 draft by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. His career with Tampa didn't last long because he suffered a back injury in 2001 and was placed on the disabled list. During that time, he had a lot of money and nothing to do. So, he became involved with a group of people at a local tattoo parlor in Florida. He began to experiment with drugs and alcohol for the first time, and also began getting tattoos.
"One night I went out with the guys and I had my first drink of alcohol and took my first drug in the same night," said Hamilton.
Hamilton got so caught up in the drugs and alcohol that he ended up spending $100,000 on drugs.
"My priorities had changed. I was putting drugs and alcohol before everything else," said Hamilton.
Because of his addiction, in 2003 Hamilton was dismissed from the MLB until he could show signs of recovery after failing many drug tests. From 2004-2006 Hamilton did not play baseball at all. He made several attempts at rehab but kept coming back to drugs and alcohol and was having trouble with his marriage to wife; Katie. Hamilton ended up being confronted by his grandmother (Mary Holt) about his abuse after he showed up at her house needing a place to live.
"She had told me things that my parents and everyone that loves me had told me before," said Hamilton. "She said you're killing yourself. You're killing us by making us worry. You're a better person than this, and you can do great things.
Hamilton then swore to his grandmother that he would quit.
"After hearing it from her, God just really cleared my head and opened up my heart to really hear those things and see the pain that I was causing her and people around me. And that was the realization that I needed to change and do something different and that's when I re-comitted my life to Christ," said Hamilton.
Hamilton ended up announcing that he was clean and after just eight months from his last drink and dose of drugs, The MLB was so impressed that they invited him to return to the game. Tampa Bay put him through the waivers by allowing anyone to claim him for $20,000. In 2006, Hamilton ended up being snapped up by the Chicago Cubs in the Rule 5 Draft, who prearranged a deal with the Cincinnati Reds allowing them to recruit him. Hamilton's season with the Reds was cut short with a wrist injury.
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