Willie Calhoun would have missed Rangers’ March opener. He will miss this one, too.
When catcher Robinson Chirinos limped off the field Monday night, the thought was that the Texas Rangers might be in for a big setback to start the 2020 MLB season.
The injury exit no one saw, though, is the one that is likely to cause the biggest disruption to the Rangers’ season-opening plans.
Left fielder Willie Calhoun has a mild strain of his right hip and will not be available Opening Day against the Colorado Rockies, general manager Jon Daniels said.
An MRI exam showed the Grade 1 strain, which usually requires 2-4 weeks of recovery. Calhoun was injured Monday during an intrasquad game, so Daniels doesn’t believe Calhoun will miss many games but will likely land on the injured list.
“I’m hopeful it won’t be more than a few days or a week,” Daniels said. “It’s not at a point where it’s going to cause him to miss a long period of time, but it’s one those small muscles where if you don’t give it enough time to heal, it could put him at risk of missing a longer period.”
The hip injury is nothing compared to the broken jaw Calhoun suffered in March, when he was struck by a 95-mph fastball during a spring game in Arizona. He would have missed the Rangers’ original season opener March 26 and has said he likely wouldn’t have been ready until early June.
He healed during the shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic and considered himself lucky that he wouldn’t be missing the rescheduled opener.
“Opening Day for the year 2020 was just not meant to be for me,” he said Wednesday on Twitter.
Chirinos also might not be ready as he deals with an injury to his right ankle, but he would be closer than Calhoun. Because rosters will be expanded to 30 players to start the season, the Rangers might keep Chirinos off the IL.
That isn’t an option for Calhoun as the Rangers try to keep him from aggravating it off the bench.
I think one of the things with Willie is he could probably get out there and give you a good at-bat,” Daniels said. “It’s just the concern is does he put himself at risk coming out of the box or running bases or something like that, where the adrenaline gets going and he’s wanting to compete and not allow himself to protect that muscle.”
Nick Solak seems to be the likely choice to replace Calhoun.
It won’t be Eli White, who won’t be ready to start the season because of a strained oblique. Left-hander Brett Martin, who tested positive for COVID-19 during screening before summer camp, will be placed on the IL.
He has not been cleared to participate.
“He’s doing really, really well, and I’m hoping he’ll be back in camp soon,” Daniels said.
Two other relievers will also not be ready for the opener but shouldn’t be out long.
Lefty Joely Rodriguez (oblique) was scheduled to throw off a mound Wednesday for the first time since straining his oblique during the shutdown. He will advance to live batting practice next week, but will need time on the IL to start the season.
Right-hander Rafael Montero isn’t injured, but his arrival to summer camp was delayed by the birth of a child in the Dominican Republic. He has been on a slower path toward getting ready for the season.
This story was originally published July 15, 2020 at 3:48 PM.
