Texas Rangers have stars Seager and Semien, but the manager loves what this guy brings

The mere mention of Kole Calhoun made Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward light up.

“I don’t know if we have a long enough segment to talk about what he can bring to the team,” Woodward said.

The Rangers had an active free agency period before the lockout, securing shortstop Corey Seager, MVP of the 2020 World Series, from the Los Angeles Dodgers and All-Star second baseman Marcus Semien from the Toronto Blue Jays. They also acquired a front-line starting pitcher in right-hander Jon Gray.

One name that slipped through the cracks of the headlines? Veteran outfielder Kole Calhoun, whom the Rangers signed to a one-year $5.2 million deal.

Helping the process of melding new acquisitions on a team coming off its first 100-loss regular season in nearly half a century is something that excites Calhoun.

“I look forward to it,” he said. “You try to blend all of these different personalities together and build that team chemistry.”

Calhoun, 34, was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in the eighth round of the 2010 MLB Draft. Two years later, he made his big-league debut.

In 2014, Calhoun became a full-time player alongside Mike Trout in the outfield. During his eight-year career with the Angels, he was a .249 hitter, swatting 140 home runs in 966 games.

The Arizona State product then came home in 2020 to play for the Arizona Diamondbacks. In a COVID-19-shortened season that year and 2021, Calhoun played in 105 games and hit 21 home runs and batted .230.

Calhoun’s offensive numbers have dipped a bit and he may be a step or two slower than he was in his best defensive season of 2015, when he won a Gold Glove diving all over the outfield like he was at a water park.

However, word around camp is that Calhoun’s value to his new organization may be as high as it has ever been. “This guy is special, man,” Woodward said. “Just hearing his passion for the game and what we’ve been trying to do here, and the culture we’re trying to create here … he’s all in.”

Calhoun was one of the first players the Rangers contacted in the offseason about joining the team, Woodward said.

He’s only 5-foot-10, but he stands much taller among a group of outfielders that is still learning how to play at the major-league level.

Calhoun uses his voice to echo the messages Woodward and the coaching staff are trying to convey to the rest of the team during camp. “He holds his teammates accountable, in a really positive way,” Woodward said.

“Positive” can mean different things depending on the situation. It can be a pat on the back as a reminder to stay positive after a dropped fly ball, a gentle reprimand for not giving maximum effort or just light words of encouragement to keep the team moving in the same direction.

“Being around for so long, that kind of wears off on some of the guys. Just the day-to-day life in the big leagues,” Calhoun said.

“He can get after it if he needs to, if some guys step out of line,” Woodward added.

He doesn’t care what position group they’re in either. Whether they’re pitchers, catchers, infielders or outfielders, Calhoun expects a coordinated effort all the way around.

Calhoun doesn’t just talk the talk. His desire to win and his leadership is what Woodward liked in their talks, along with what he has seen from Calhoun so far in his career. Texas’ manager, now in his fourth season, referred to Calhoun as an “old-school soul” when it comes to his approach to improving.

“Between the lines, he’s one of the best competitors I’ve been around,” Woodward said. “The base-running side, the outfield-defense side, just an overall mentality. He’s been phenomenal.”

Calhoun also has taken it upon himself to act as a coach, and he meets with the staff before practice, trying to figure out ways to reinforce either the staff’s main talking points or driving home those minute details that can often be the difference between success and failure at the big-league level.

Fellow veteran newcomer Jake Marisnick understands what it means to guide younger players.

“Coming in, having experience picking other players’ brains on routines, your job is to try to relay that to the younger guys,” he said. “Making sure they’re taking care of their bodies and things that they can control on the field. Just passing along wisdom.”

Although he’s only batting .200 (2-for-10) so far this spring, Calhoun has a shot to start in right field as the outfield picture starts to come into focus. On Sunday, the Rangers optioned outfielder Leody Taveras to Triple-A Round Rock.

Regardless of what happens, Calhoun’s impact will be felt in the clubhouse.

“I like to think I do it somewhat the right way, he said, “If that rubs off on somebody and helps them in their career, that’s awesome.”

This story was originally published March 28, 2022 at 5:00 AM.