Rangers’ Josh Hamilton has two broken ribs

Outfielder Josh Hamilton hopes to return to the Texas Rangers’ lineup before the end of the regular season despite tests Tuesday revealing that he has two broken ribs.

Hamilton, who leads the major leagues with a .361 batting average, hasn’t played since crashing into a wall while making a catch Sept. 4 at Minnesota.

“There’s really no difference in the treatment for it, whether they’re broken or just bruised,” Hamilton said in the clubhouse before the Rangers’ game against the Angels in Anaheim. “It’s mostly just good to have confirmation of why I was in so much pain. Now we can take care of it the way we need to, and do it as quick as we can.”

Hamilton has 31 home runs — one shy of his career high — and has driven in 97 runs in 130 games.

Lopez released by Cardinals

Infielder Felipe Lopez was released by the St. Louis Cardinals a day after he was late arriving for a game against the Florida Marlins.

Lopez accompanied the Cardinals to Pittsburgh to begin a three-game series, but was told before Tuesday’s game by Manager Tony La Russa and General Manager John Mozeliak that he was being let go.

“He’s healthy. He’s just not going to get starts and not going to come off the bench,” La Russa said. “He was told and he said, ‘OK.’ There was no reason for him to be around, so …”

Mozeliak said Lopez arrived late at the stadium for Monday’s game at Florida, a makeup of a previous rainout.

“He was late, and it was not the first time,” Mozeliak said. “When you think about what we’re trying to accomplish here, we brought up a lot of young players with our September callups, and we wanted to make sure they understand the message we want heard. It really came down to a tipping point and it was either just not play him or allow him to go home.”

Cubs’ Colvin remains hospitalized

The Chicago Cubs say that outfielder Tyler Colvin remains in stable condition in a Miami hospital after part of a broken bat punctured his chest during the second inning of a game against the Marlins on Sunday.

Colvin was standing at third base when he was struck by a sliver of Welington Castillo’s broken bat. Castillo doubled on the play and Colvin scored.

Interim Manager Mike Quade said Colvin seemed to be “in better spirits” when they spoke Monday and that it “sounds like the prognosis is very good.”

The Cubs don’t know when Colvin will be released from the hospital.

Hinch hired by Padres

The San Diego Padres have hired former Arizona Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch as vice president of professional scouting.

Hinch was fired by the Diamondbacks on July 2, along with general manager Josh Byrnes.