Hamilton likely to make debut with Rangers on May 25

Josh Hamilton will likely make his 2015 debut with the Texas Rangers on May 25 as they open a three-game series at Cleveland.

General manager Jon Daniels didn’t dismiss Friday at New York as a possibility, and said there isn’t much concern about Hamilton having to face a media circus at Yankee Stadium.

“That’s not really a concern for me,” Daniels said. “If I had to say right now, I would say it’d probably be Cleveland more likely, but we haven’t made that call yet.”

Instead, the Rangers want him to be through the soreness that is common at this point in what essentially is spring training for Hamilton, and they also want to make sure his timing at the plate is right.

Hamilton went 4 for 5, all singles, Saturday night in his first game with Double-A Frisco. The Rangers will evaluate him Wednesday and determine his next stop.

“You could probably always use a few more games to get going,” Daniels said. “There’s going to be media wherever Josh goes, whether it’s New York, Texas, Cleveland, anywhere. Certain guys bring that with them. Obviously, New York’s going to be more. That’s the nature of the market. But that’s not going to be a factor in our decision.

“It’s going to be based on when he’s ready and the best fit for the club.”