Unlike past two springs, nothing coming from left field to sack Texas Rangers’ Calhoun
Willie Calhoun will head to Texas Rangers spring training without having to worry about winning a spot on the Opening Day roster.
It will be his first, but coming far later than he expected.
The centerpiece of the 2017 Yu Darvish trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Calhoun thought he would break camp with the Rangers in 2018, but he was part of the first cuts as his defense lagged.
He thought he would make the team last spring, too, after committing himself to a healthier lifestyle and, as a result, making him a better player. But Hunter Pence came along, and that was that.
Calhoun didn’t take either decision well. It was painful to watch last spring.
From that, though, came the final area where he needed to improve.
He needed to grow up. He knows that now.
“I feel like I’ve grown into myself,” Calhoun said. “The organization has seen me at the lowest and that I’ve matured. To be able to put that behind me ... means a lot.”
Calhoun didn’t sulk once with Triple A Nashville, and by mid-May he was with the Rangers. He was to to be sent back down again in July, part of an unfortunate numbers crunch, but never returned to the minors after only a few days with Nashville before Joey Gallo hit the injured list.
Calhoun finished the season with 344 at-bats, and did a lot with them. He launched 21 home runs and posted an .848 OPS while locking down an everyday spot in left field.
Barring a relapse into immaturity, Calhoun will be in the lineup March 26 at the Seattle Mariners to open the 2020 MLB season.
“He wasn’t happy a few times he got sent down, but he maintained a level of trust with the staff,” manager Chris Woodward said. “He wants to be better. He doesn’t look at himself as just an offensive player.
“The job is pretty much his. He’s proven that. I don’t see a slowdown. He’s not like, ‘Oh, I can take a breath.’ He wants to keep pushing.”
The Rangers expect Calhoun’s defense to improve, and they need him to be a quality hitter. He had at least 10 games last season hitting in the second, third, fourth and fifth spots in the lineup.
Gallo’s return figures to bump Calhoun from the No. 3 spot, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him hitting fourth or fifth.
And he will have all spring to work his swing into shape for the regular season, rather than having to fight for a roster spot. But he’s taking a mature approach to his camp.
“This spring training is the first where I don’t have to press and do too much to make the team,” Calhoun said. “I’m trying to work hard, and every spring training make sure I never get complacent. I want to be great, and I want to help the team win.”
This story was originally published February 8, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
