Cole Hamels Injury: Updates on Rangers Star's Groin and Return

Texas Rangers pitcher Cole Hamels will miss at least one start due to groin soreness. An exact return date has yet to be announced. 

Continue for updates. 

Daniels Comments on Hamels' Injury

Sunday, April 24

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels commented on the decision to skip Hamels in the rotation during an appearance on MLB Network Radio:

Hamels Out vs. Yankees 

Sunday, April 24

"The Rangers have scratched [Hamels] from Monday's start [against the New York Yankees] with a mild strain of his left groin muscle. It is not considered serious and there are no plans to put him on the disabled list," revealed T.R. Sullivan of Rangers.com. "Hamels missed one start last season in August because of a similar problem."

Hamels Is the Key to Rangers' Pitching Success

The 2008 World Series MVP and most experienced postseason arm on the Rangers roster is now shelved, forcing Texas to search for a new ace. Hamels is currently 3-0 with 23 strikeouts, a 2.52 ERA and 1.24 WHIP on the 2016 campaign.

The pitcher was traded to the Rangers from the Philadelphia Phillies at the 2015 trade deadline in order to help the Rangers win the American League West. He overcame a tough start in which he went 0-1 with a 5.93 ERA by winning his next seven decisions to close out the regular season.

Hamels' last start was arguably the most important of the regular season, pitching a complete game that clinched the American League West for the Rangers.

The MLB shared footage of the final out:

This is a Rangers staff that has been dealing with injuries for more than a year now. The team's ace Yu Darvish hasn't appeared in a game since the 2014 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2015. 

They also saw Yovani Gallardo head to the Baltimore Orioles in free agency this offseason.

Now with Hamels out and Darvish still on the shelf, the Rangers will have to turn to the likes of Derek Holland and Chi Chi Gonzalez to step up and be top-of-the-rotation-caliber starters. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com

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