Josh Hamilton to the disabled list with a strained hamstring

Well, this is one of those things we knew would be coming sooner or later...we just didn't think it would be this soon.

The Texas Rangers have announced Josh Hamilton is going on the disabled list with a grade 2 strain of his hamstring.  He is expected to miss four weeks.

Ryan Rua is starting a rehab assignment tomorrow, and is eligible to return from the disabled list on June 10.  Given the amount of innings the bullpen was asked to throw today, I suspect that the initial move will be to get a fresh arm up for the bullpen in place of Hamilton, and then limp along with a three man bench until Rua is ready to return.  The position players on the 40 man roster who aren't either already in the majors, or on the d.l., are Tomas Telis, Jorge Alfaro, Rougned Odor and Michael Choice.  None of those guys are really viable options at this point, unless you just want a warm body.  If Thomas Field cleared waivers, they could bring him back in a day or two, then DFA him when Rua is ready.

In the short term, I'd expect to see Delino DeShields and Jake Smolinski manning left field until Rua is back.  Once Adrian Beltre returns, if Joey Gallo has done enough to stick around, he could get some time out there.