Hamilton visited a specialist in Southern California on Tuesday afternoon where two small rib fractures were discovered, sidelining the MVP candidate until they can further investigate the injury. Hamilton suffered rib problems throughout 2009, which is why Ellsbury called on him back in April.
"Yeah, I know what he's going through," Ellsbury said in an interview with MLB.com. "I talked to him when I had mine. He said, 'When you start feeling better, take another two weeks.' Obviously I didn't listen to that. Yeah, we all want to get out there and play. Hopefully he gets back there as soon as possible and he's able to play at his high level that he does."
Despite the wealth of knowledge Hamilton already has on rib issues, Ellsbury still wants to reach out and provide support, one rib casualty to another. As Ellsbury knows all too well, coming back too quickly can cause even more damage.
"He had a rib injury last year, so he's been through this. I'm going to talk to him," Ellsbury said. "I worked out with him in the past. I know he wants to play and wants to get out there. It's unfortunate. Swinging the baseball bat, the rotational [aspect of it], it's everything in baseball."
Ellsbury also shed some light on his own injury, saying he will not resume baseball activity until December. Dr. Lewis Yocum told the center fielder that it would serve him best to rest the injury for a few months to fully ensure that it has healed.
He did say, however, that he would be fully ready to go by spring training, and despite a limited showing in 2010, he's ready to come back even stronger for next season.
"I'll be ready to go by spring taining," Ellsbury told MLB.com. "You have to look at the positives. In my situation, I have two extra months of working out maybe over everyone else. I'll come back stronger, faster and a better baseball player next spring. You have to take the best out of everything. That's the way I'm looking at it."
