Josh Hamilton, Wife Katie Filed For Divorce In February After Relapse Surfaced: Report
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Josh Hamilton is in the midst of a divorce from his wife of 11 years, Katie Hamilton. Proceedings began in February, at around the same time the Major League Baseball star purportedly suffered a relapse into substance abuse, according to a report.
Documents filed by Hamilton, 33, in Tarrant County, Texas, (Fort Worth) vaguely identified marital discord as the reason for the split, the Dallas Morning News reported. Hamilton asked the court to grant 34 divorce-related requests in the filing, including unimpeded contact between him and the couple’s four children and an official “gag order” that would prevent Katie Hamilton from publicly criticizing him. Katie Hamilton filed a legal counter to his petition, though details of the document were not publicly specified.
The Hamiltons have reportedly decided not to remain in contact during the proceedings and will sell their home in Newport Beach, California. They have established a set of rules for how to handle family expenses and interaction with their children during the divorce. Katie Hamilton was set to star on the next season of “Real Housewives of Orange County,” which premieres in April.
Hamilton has yet to play during the 2015 MLB season as he recovers from his relapse, as well as offseason shoulder surgery. The outfielder fell back into unspecified substance use after a fight with his wife during Super Bowl weekend in February, sources close to the slugger told Yahoo Sports. He reportedly used cocaine and went to a strip club.
Despite his substance use, MLB officials opted not to suspend Hamilton after an independent arbitrator ruled he did not violate the terms of his treatment program, USA Today reported. The Angels’ front office expressed disappointment with the league office’s decision. No timetable has been set for Hamilton’s return to the field, and Angels owner Arte Moreno declined earlier this month to say if he would welcome him back to the team, the Los Angeles Times reported.
A former top prospect, Hamilton developed a cocaine and alcohol addiction in the mid-2000s before resurrecting his career as a member of the Texas Rangers. Hamilton is in the midst of a five-year, $125 million contract he signed with the Angels in 2012.
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