If you haven’t heard the story, allow me to recap:

Josh, after battling a drug and alcohol addiction that ended up getting him suspended from baseball, found Christ, got clean and sober, and in 2007 was reinstated into baseball. He was signed by the Cubs, traded to the Reds, and then traded to the Texas Rangers in 2008, where he has shined on the field and become a beacon of hope to those who have very little — or none. 

He shares his testimony with churches, in center field after a game, on national television during the All-Star game. His faith in Jesus brought him out of some very dark times. Regarding his recent hitting slump, Hamilton stated that his problems were “the Devil trying to shake [his] Faith.”

However, it has come out that in an Arizona nightclub back in January, Josh’s demons did get the best of him. 

The pictures were circulated on the website deadspin.com on Saturday, and the Rangers organization immediately came out to address the situation. Josh himself held a press conference, owning up to his mistake, claiming it as an isolated incident and that it will never happen again.

The face of the “I Am Second” Christian movement claimed that he is not a hypocrite, but merely human — a human that makes mistakes. 

I’ve never personally had to deal with the demons associated with drugs and alcohol to the extent to which Josh Hamilton has. However, as a Christian, I too struggle with sin and the Devil’s grip. 

I understand that Josh is human — I just hope he makes better choices from here on out. As a recovering addict, he knows that he cannot go near a bar. He cannot go to a bar to catch a game, to hang with buddies, and certainly not to have a drink. Because, for Josh, a drink turns into two, which turns into several. 

The way Josh has handled this has shown how much of a class-act he truly is. Demons still haunt Josh Hamilton. 

They haunt us all.