The life of Texas Ranger Josh Hamilton has taken another dramatic turn following his record-breaking performance in Major League Baseball's All-Star Home Run Derby last month.
Since he belted 28 home runs in the first round of the home run contest last Monday, the former drug addict has garnered more attention than many could have imagined.
"I didn't think it would change so fast," Hamilton told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
"Obviously a lot of people were watching that. Tattoos give me away more than anything," he added, referring to more than two dozen tattoos covering his body.
A few years ago, all of this would have been even more unimaginable for Hamilton. Despite being drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 1999 at the age of 18, Hamilton's life took a turn for the worst in 2001, when he took his first drink and snorted cocaine for the first time - on the same night. He would later fall into the depths of drug addiction and find his life spiralling out of control.
"I went down this road where I never seemed to laugh or cry," he told The Associated Press.
His addiction led to eight trips to rehab, 26 tattoos, a heartbroken family, and three years away from baseball. From 2001 to 2004, the one-time No 1 draft pick played in only a few games and was suspended by Major League Baseball for violating their drug policy.
Then, one October night in 2005, a paltry 180-pound Hamilton covered with tattoos of demons without eyes showed up on his grandmother's doorstep and asked if she would take him in - which she did.
Saddened by the appearance of a grandson she could barely recognise, Hamilton's grandmother challenged him that month to surrender to God - and, by grace, she got through to him.
From then on, Hamilton began reading the Bible and, with God's help, gave up drugs and alcohol.
After going to rehab and training again in 2006 under the heavy watch of the MLB, Hamilton was drafted by the Chicago Cubs, placing him back on track.
"Just watching the transformation that God has made in Josh's life ... I mean it's just been so awesome and such a gift from the Lord to see what He's done in him," Hamilton's wife, Katie, told the Christian Broadcasting Network.
