C-Dad,
Not sure your analogy using Josh Hamilton is a good one. I agree, only a super talented player could sit out like he did and then have that kind of impact upon returning. However, many great players have taken time off in their prime and come back to great success; Ted Williams missed five years of his prime to two wars. Warren Spahn and others missed time during WW II.
Hamilton's history before getting into trouble in Tampa, was a legendary work ethic, great attitude, sound religious background, all leading to his number one pick of the draft that year by Tampa Bay.
Certainly not every one is equal, some may need to toil less for success, but nobody in baseball can exceed to greatness "without doing the work."