Hamilton was hurt a week ago diving for a pop-up during spring training. He participated in drills Saturday but has been limited since then.
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"At this point of spring training there's no need to push it further," Hamilton said Wednesday. "Could I go out and do something? Probably. Is it smart to? No."
Hamilton was scratched from both of the team's intrasquad games and Rangers manager Ron Washington said he won't play in the team's exhibition opener Thursday against Kansas City.
"I figure if a guy's going to have some down time, have it early," Washington said. "It's no concern."
Hamilton said he wants to make sure he gets healthy so the pain doesn't linger.
"I need to patient with it so I know when I go back out it's not going to hurt and I'm not going to have a setback," Hamilton said. "I don't want to make it mad again."
Hamilton played just 89 games last year due to an assortment of injuries.
"In the past I haven't been smart about injuries," he said. "It's about time I grow up and learn a little bit."
Notes: Washington said catchers Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden are "dead even" for the starting job and will alternate play, if not games. "One and one doesn't work," Washington said. "You can have a good day at the plate and the next day you can't come out and hit." ... RHP Chris Ray, who missed Tuesday's intrasquad game with what was described as "general soreness" threw a bullpen session Wednesday. The bullpen session for RHP Warner Madrigal, who has been working through tightness in his right forearm, will be Thursday. ... LHP Derek Holland, who sprained his knee on the third day of workouts, threw live batting practice Wednesday for the first time this spring.
Nakamura to seal Japanese returnTexas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton does not play intrasquad game
