Yankees designate former SF Giants, Rangers slugger for assignment

The New York Yankees designated former SF Giants and Texas Rangers corner bat Willie Calhoun for assignment on Friday.

The New York Yankees reinstated former SF Giants and Texas Rangers slugger Willie Calhoun from the injured list and designated him for assignment on Friday. Calhoun has spent the entire season in the Yankees organization and hit .239/.309/.403 with seven doubles, five home runs, 14 walks, and 20 strikeouts in 149 big-league plate appearances. Calhoun has also spent some time in the upper minors this season, where he posted a .279/.311/.395 triple-slash.

Texas Rangers designated hitter Willie Calhoun takes a swing. (2022) / Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Calhoun was drafted by the Dodgers back in 2015 out of Yavapai College when both Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi and manager Gabe Kapler were both working in Los Angeles. Calhoun quickly blasted his way through the lower minors and had established himself as a consensus top-100 prospect in the minor leagues by 2017.

At the 2017 MLB trade deadline, the Dodgers used Calhoun as the centerpiece of a trade package to acquire Yu Darvish from the Rangers, and by the end of the year, Calhoun had made his big-league debut in Arlington.

In 2019, Calhoun looked like one of the best young hitters in MLB. While injuries limited him to just 83 games that year, he hit 21 homers as a 24-year-old and posted an excellent .269/.323/.524 triple-slash.

Over the past three seasons, though, Calhoun was unable to build off his success. Calhoun openly discussed struggling after undergoing swing changes with the Rangers' staff to try and tap into more of his power and eventually requested a trade. The Giants acquired him shortly thereafter for outfielder Steven Duggar.

With the Giants Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento, Calhoun hit .299/.386/.465 with five home runs in 41 games before he was called up to the majors. He only received nine plate appearances with the Giants, primarily as a pinch-hitter, recording just one single and a walk before he was designated for assignment, became a free agent, and eventually inked a minor-league deal with the Yankees.

If Calhoun were an above-average defensive player at any position, he likely would have found a more permanent home by now. However, developed as a second baseman, Calhoun has been primarily a designated hitter alongside occasional stints in the corner outfield in recent years. A well below-average defensive outfielder, Calhoun's lack of power production makes it hard for him to secure a more permanent role.

Despite his limitations, he still has the pedigree of former top-100 prospecthood, a promising start to his big-league career, and a long history of walking at above-average rates without high strikeouts. Some team will be willing to give him an opportunity, at least on a minor-league contract. In the meantime, the New York Yankees will look to find a landing spot for Willie Calhoun in a trade over the next week. If they are unable to do so, he will likely return to free agency.