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Willie Calhoun

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Willie Calhoun
Calhoun at Globe Life Park in Arlington in 2019
San Francisco Giants
Left fielder
Born: (1994-11-04) November 4, 1994 (age 29)
Vallejo, California
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 12, 2017, for the Texas Rangers
MLB statistics
(through April 29, 2022)
Batting average.241
Home runs32
Runs batted in103
Teams

Willie Shawn Lamont Calhoun (born November 4, 1994) is an American professional baseball left fielder for the San Francisco Giants organization. He played college baseball at the University of Arizona and Yavapai College. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Calhoun in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB draft. He made his Major League Baseball (MLB) debut with the Texas Rangers in 2017, and played with them until 2022.

Career

Amateur career

Willie Calhoun is named for his father, a corrections officer at San Quentin State Prison.[1][2] His mother is Monica.[3]

Calhoun attended Benicia High School in Benicia, California, where in three years of baseball as an infielder he batted .435/.513/.736 with 11 home runs and 82 RBIs in 262 at bats.[4] The Tampa Bay Rays selected him in the 17th round of the 2013 Major League Baseball draft,[5] but he did not sign with the Rays. Instead, Calhoun honored his commitment to play college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats.[3]

Calhoun struggled in his lone season at the University of Arizona, batted .247/.345/.301 in 146 at bats playing third base, lost his spot on the team, and considered quitting the sport altogether.[1][2] In 2014, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wareham Gatemen of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[6]

In 2015, he transferred to Yavapai College, a community college.[1][7] With them, he batted .432/.520/.952 with 31 home runs and 85 RBIs in 227 at bats.[8] His 31 home runs were the most by a junior college player since Bryce Harper also hit 31, at the College of Southern Nevada in 2010.[9] Calhoun signed with Kansas State University out of junior college.[7]

Los Angeles Dodgers

Calhoun with the Tulsa Drillers

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Calhoun in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB draft.[10] He signed with the Dodgers for a signing bonus above $340,000, rather than transfer to Kansas State, and made his professional debut with the Ogden Raptors (with whom he was a Pioneer League mid-season All Star) and was later promoted to the Great Lakes Loons and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.[11][12][13] In 73 games between the three levels, he hit .316/.390/.519 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs, as he played second base.[14]

To start the 2016 season, he was promoted to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers of the Texas League.[15] He was selected as a starter for the mid-season Texas League All-Star game, and was also named a Texas League post-season All Star,[11][16][17] and selected to the U.S. team for the All-Star Futures Game.[18] At the conclusion of the season, he was also named to the post-season all-star team.[19][20] In 503 at bats over 132 games for the Drillers, he hit .255/.318/.469 with 75 runs (2nd in the Texas League), 27 homers (2nd), 45 walks (8th), and 88 RBIs (1st).[14] After the season, the Dodgers assigned Calhoun to the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League. He earned MVP honors in the Fall Stars Game for top prospects playing in the league when he went 3 for 3 with a homer in the game.[21][22]

He was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers to begin the 2017 season[23][24][21] and played well enough to be named the second baseman for the Pacific Coast League mid-season and post-season all-star teams.[25][26] In 2017 with the team he batted .298/.358/.574.

Texas Rangers

2017-18

On July 31, 2017, Calhoun was traded to the Texas Rangers (along with fellow minor leaguers A. J. Alexy and Brendon Davis) in exchange for Yu Darvish.[27][28] With Round Rock he batted .310/.345/.566. Between the two teams in the Pacific Coast League he batted .300/.355/.572 with 80 runs (7th in the league), 31 home runs (2nd), and 93 RBIs (2nd) in 486 at bats.[29] He was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on September 12, 2017.[30] Calhoun hit .265/.324/.353 with a home run and four RBIs for the Rangers in 13 games in 2017, playing 11 games in left field, one at DH, and one as a pinch hitter.[31]

Pre-2018, he was rated the #36 prospect in baseball by Baseball America, #43 by Baseball Prospectus, and #53 by Major League Baseball.[32] In 2018, Calhoun hit .222/.269/.333 with two home runs and 11 RBIs in 35 major league games, playing 26 games in left field, nine as a pinch hitter, and one as a DH.[33] In 108 games with the Triple-A Round Rock Express, he hit .294/.351/.431 with nine home runs and 47 RBIs.[14]

2019

He came to 2019 spring training 25 pounds lighter.[9] The Rangers optioned Calhoun to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds to open the season.[34] On May 15, he was recalled to replace the injured Elvis Andrus, making his season debut the same day.[35] In the midst of batting .435/.458/.739, he was placed on the 10-day IL on May 22 with a strained left quad.[36] He was reactivated from the IL on June 17[37] but was optioned back to Triple-A Nashville on July 16 after hitting .225/.267/.408 in second stint in order to clear a spot for All-Star OF/DH Hunter Pence on the roster.[38][39] On July 25, he was recalled to replace the injured Joey Gallo,[40][41] and he would play with the Rangers for the remainder of the season. Calhoun would finish the 2019 season batting .269/.323/.524 with 51 runs, 21 home runs, and 48 RBIs in 83 games.[42] He played 71 games in left field, seven games at DH, and five games as a pinch hitter.[43]

2020

On March 8, 2020, during a spring training game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Calhoun was struck on the right side of his face by a 95-mile-per-hour (153 km/h) fastball by lefthander Julio Urías.[44] The impact fractured and displaced Calhoun's jaw, and he was air-lifted by helicopter to a hospital.[44][45][46] Calhoun had worn a face shield on his batting helmet previously, but stopped during the prior season.[45] He underwent surgery for a non-displaced fracture in his jaw to insert a plate and stabilize his jaw the next day.[47][48][49][50]

In 100 at bats over 29 games in the 2020 season, Calhoun hit .190/.232/.260 with one home run and 13 RBIs.[14] He played 21 games at DH, six games in left field, and three games as a pinch hitter.[51]

2021

On June 26, 2021, Calhoun suffered a fractured forearm after he was hit by a pitch from Kansas City Royals left-handed pitcher Kris Bubic.[52][53] He underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his left ulna, and was placed on the injured list.[54]

Calhoun finished the 2021 season hitting .250/.310/.381 with six home runs and 25 RBIs over 284 at bats in 75 games played, playing left field.[55] He played 40 games as a left fielder, 29 games as a DH, and seven games as a pinch hitter.[56] He was one of only 11 major leaguers listed at 5 foot 8 or shorter who were playing regularly.[9]

2022

On March 22, 2022, Calhoun signed a $1.3 million contract with the Rangers, avoiding salary arbitration.[57] After beginning the 2022 season with a .136 batting average in 44 at bats, as he played 12 games as a DH, five games in left field, and five games as a pinch hitter, the Rangers optioned Calhoun to Round Rock. In response, Calhoun requested a trade from the Rangers.[58][59] On June 5, Calhoun was designated for assignment.[60][61] Calhoun went unclaimed on waivers and accepted an outright assignment to Round Rock.[62] With Round Rock he batted .217/.264/.410 with 5 home runs and 20 RBIs in 83 at bats.[32]

San Francisco Giants

On June 23, 2022, the Rangers traded Calhoun and cash considerations to the San Francisco Giants for Steven Duggar.[63][64]

References

  1. ^ a b c Shusterman, Jordan (June 15, 2021). "RANGERS SLUGGER WILLIE CALHOUN'S LONG, WINDING JOURNEY TO HIS PLACE IN THE SHOW". Fox Sports. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Grant, Evan. "Taking a fresh look at life". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  3. ^ a b O'Donell, Matt (November 20, 2012). "Benicia High baseball player Willie Calhoun signs with Arizona". Vallejo Times Herald. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  4. ^ "Willie Calhoun's High School Baseball Stats". MaxPreps.com.
  5. ^ Matt O'Donnell (June 9, 2013). "Benicia High grad Calhoun taken by Tampa Bay Rays in baseball draft". Vallejo Times Herald. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  6. ^ Duca, Rob (July 4, 2014). "WAREHAM GATEMEN: Gatemen continue to struggle as they try to solidify starting rotation". Kingston Reporter. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Thomas Gase (April 25, 2015). "Benicia High graduate Willie Calhoun putting up big numbers for Yavapai". Vallejo Times Herald. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  8. ^ "Arizona Community College Athletic Conference". Arizona Community College Athletic Conference.
  9. ^ a b c "Rangers slugger Willie Calhoun's long, winding journey to his place in The Show". FOX Sports.
  10. ^ Thomas Gase (June 9, 2015). "Benicia High School graduate Willie Calhoun selected by the Dodgers in MLB draft". Vallejo Times Herald. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Willie Calhoun Stats, Fantasy & News". MiLB.com.
  12. ^ Sam Dykstra (July 5, 2015). "Raptors' Calhoun plates career-high five". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  13. ^ Hugh Bernreuter (August 18, 2015). "Dodgers promote infield prospect Willie Calhoun from Great Lakes". Mlive.com. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  14. ^ a b c d "Willie Calhoun Register statistics & history". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. ^ Barry Lewis (April 4, 2016). "Drillers' roster set for season opener". Tulsa World. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
  16. ^ "FIVE NATURALS SELECTED TO TEXAS LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME". MILB.com. June 14, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  17. ^ Glaser, Kyle (June 15, 2016). "Bregman Highlights Texas League All-Stars". Baseball America. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  18. ^ "Willie Calhoun Named to MLB Futures All-Star Game". MILB.com. June 29, 2016.
  19. ^ "De Jong, Calhoun and Verdugo Receive Honors from the Texas League". MILB.com. August 31, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  20. ^ "Four Hooks named to Texas League Postseason All-Star Team". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. August 31, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  21. ^ a b Bill Plunkett (December 15, 2016). "Dodgers prospect Willie Calhoun not short on confidence". The Orange County Register. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  22. ^ Boor, William (November 5, 2016). "Dodgers' Calhoun named Fall Stars Game MVP". MLB.com. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  23. ^ Jacob Unruh (April 25, 2017). "Dodgers: Prospect Willie Calhoun showing progress in field, at plate". The Oklahoman. Retrieved October 10, 2019.
  24. ^ Oklahoma City Dodgers (April 5, 2017). "OKC Dodgers Release 2017 Opening Day Roster". MiLB.com. Retrieved April 5, 2017.
  25. ^ Unruh, Jacob (June 28, 2017). "Four OKC Dodgers named All-Stars". The Oklahoman. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  26. ^ Fraley, Gerry (August 28, 2017). "Rangers prospect Willie Calhoun named to Pacific Coast League All-Star team". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  27. ^ Ken Gurnick (July 31, 2017). "Dodgers get Yu, relief, dazzle at Deadline". MLB.com. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  28. ^ Joseph Zucker (July 31, 2017). "Yu Darvish Traded to Dodgers from Rangers for Willie Calhoun, A.J. Alexy, More". Bleacher Report. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
  29. ^ "2017 Pacific Coast League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  30. ^ J.J. Cooper (September 12, 2017). "WHAT TO EXPECT: WILLIE CALHOUN". Baseball America. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  31. ^ "Willie Calhoun 2017 Batting Splits". Baseball-Reference.com.
  32. ^ a b "Willie Calhoun Amateur, College, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  33. ^ "Willie Calhoun 2018 Batting Splits". Baseball-Reference.com.
  34. ^ T.R. Sullivan (March 21, 2019). "Pence makes Rangers; Calhoun to be optioned". MLB.com. Retrieved March 22, 2019.
  35. ^ Skretta, Dave (May 15, 2019). "Rangers place Elvis Andrus on IL amid flurry of roster moves". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  36. ^ "Rangers' Calhoun to IL; DeShields back in bigs". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 22, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  37. ^ T.R. Sullivan (June 17, 2019). "Calhoun activated as Pence hits injured list". MLB.com. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  38. ^ "Hunter Pence activated from IL by Rangers, Willie Calhoun back to minors". The Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. July 16, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  39. ^ "Rangers activate OF Hunter Pence, select contract of RHP Taylor Guerrieri from Nashville". MLB.com. July 16, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  40. ^ Weaver, Levi (July 25, 2019). "What we know and what we don't about Joey Gallo's hamate injury". The Athletic. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  41. ^ "Gallo injury again opens door for Calhoun to stick Rangers". Star-Telegram. July 26, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  42. ^ T.R. Sullivan (November 26, 2019). "How Calhoun looks to improve in 2020". MLB.com. Retrieved November 30, 2019.
  43. ^ "Willie Calhoun 2019 Batting Splits". Baseball-Reference.com.
  44. ^ a b "Rangers optimistic after Calhoun's jaw surgery". MLB.com.
  45. ^ a b "Willie Calhoun Has Surgery For Broken Jaw After Being Hit In Face By Fastball". www.cbsnews.com.
  46. ^ "Willie Calhoun suffers broken jaw after being hit by pitch". FOX News. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  47. ^ "Calhoun (fractured jaw) returns to Texas". MLB.com.
  48. ^ "Texas Rangers' Willie Calhoun has surgery for broken jaw". Star-Telegram. March 8, 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  49. ^ Sullivan, T. R. (March 9, 2020). "Rangers optimistic after Calhoun's jaw surgery". MLB.com. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  50. ^ Kaye, Jordan (March 11, 2020). "Rangers OF Willie Calhoun released from hospital after having surgery on fractured jaw". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  51. ^ "Willie Calhoun 2020 Batting Splits". Baseball-Reference.com.
  52. ^ Landry, Kennedi (June 26, 2021). "Calhoun sustains forearm fracture on HBP". Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  53. ^ Sherrington, Kevin (June 26, 2021). "Rangers OF Willie Calhoun suffers broken forearm after being hit by pitch". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  54. ^ Grant, Evan (June 28, 2021). "Rangers injury updates: Willie Calhoun (forearm) to have surgery; Sam Huff returns to action". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  55. ^ Levi Weaver (October 6, 2021). "Grading the 2021 Texas Rangers: Position players edition". The Athletic. Retrieved 2021-10-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  56. ^ "Willie Calhoun 2021 Batting Splits". Baseball-Reference.com.
  57. ^ "31 players left in arbitration as more than 150 reach deals". USA Today. Associated Press. March 23, 2022. Retrieved June 5, 2022.
  58. ^ "Willie Calhoun wants Texas Rangers to trade him, seeks 'change of scenery'". ESPN.com. Associated Press. May 2, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  59. ^ Landry, Kennedi (May 3, 2022). "Calhoun on future, 'respectful' trade request". MLB.com. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  60. ^ "Texas Rangers designate Willie Calhoun for assignment". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 5, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  61. ^ Landry, Kennedi (June 5, 2022). "Rangers DFA Calhoun amid roster shuffle". MLB.com. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  62. ^ Hoyt, Joseph (June 11, 2022). "OF Willie Calhoun clears waivers, accepts Triple-A assignment". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 20, 2022.
  63. ^ Grant, Evan (June 23, 2022). "Texas Rangers trade Willie Calhoun to San Francisco Giants". Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  64. ^ "Outfielder swap: Texas Rangers trade Willie Calhoun to San Francisco Giants for Steven Duggar". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
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