Former Texas Rangers OF Willie Calhoun Finds Home with Yankees

The Texas Rangers released Willie Calhoun a year ago and now he's batting third for the New York Yankees.

Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

A year ago Willie Calhoun wanted no part of the Texas Rangers. Now, he’s batting third for the New York Yankees.

What a difference a year can make.

“I wouldn’t have believed you,” Calhoun told Fox Sports on Saturday after the Yankees’ 3-1 win over the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

Calhoun hit the go-ahead home run. It was just over a year from the day that the Rangers designated him for assignment.

As part of roster cut-downs in early May last season, the Rangers sent Calhoun to Triple-A Round Rock. He expressed his displeasure with the move.

“(I’m) gonna go to Triple=A and put myself in a position to get traded,” Calhoun told The Athletic. “I do want to be traded.”

Calhoun joined the Rangers at the trade deadline in 2017, the centerpiece of a deal that sent Texas ace Yu Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Calhoun, a lifetime .241 hitter, had one productive season for the Rangers in 2019, batting .269 with 21 home runs and 48 RBI in 83 games. Injures and consistency at the plate were always an issue. In August 2021, he was diagnosed with a left ulna bone fracture.

The Rangers found no takers and released him on June 10. He ended up with the San Francisco Giants, playing mostly for their Triple-A affiliate in Sacramento. Calhoun spent one week with the Giants in September before they designated him for assignment.

The Yankees agreed to a minor-league deal with Calhoun on New Year’s Eve. He didn’t make the Opening-Day roster, but he was called up on April 8.

He’s found steady playing time and has become a catalyst for the Yankees with outfielder Aaron Judge on the injured list for the second time this season.

Calhoun was slashing .246/.316/.426/.742 with seven doubles, five home runs and 16 RBI after Saturday’s win. But in his last 13 games Calhoun is batting .310. He’s hit five doubles, two home runs and driven in eight runs.

After a long 2022, he’s found a home in the Bronx.

“Obviously, it’s an historic franchise, it’s a winning team, and that was a big part of it,” Calhoun said. “I feel like with this clubhouse there are a lot of great dudes, a lot of great human beings and better baseball players. So being a part of a team like this is special.”

More From SI’s Inside The Rangers:

1. Texas Rangers New Nike City Connect Jersey Pay Homage to Dallas-Fort Worth
2. Texas Rangers in Play to Sing Shohei Ohtani
3. Arlington Mayor Says Rougned Odor ‘Punch’ Mural to Stay
4. Texas Rangers Clubhouse ‘Insane’ Says Reliever
5. No Pride in Texas, Rangers Lone Team Without Pride Night
6. MLB, Texas Rangers Win Bally Sports Broadcast Suit
7. AL West is 'Ours,' Not Astros Says Texas Rangers First Baseman
8. Derek Holland Making Baseball Comeback
9. Bally Sports Southwest to Televise Nearly All Rangers Games
10. Texas Rangers Unveil Exciting New Ballpark Food

---

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.