Willie Calhoun facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Willie Calhoun |
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Calhoun at Globe Life Park in Arlington in 2019
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| Free agent | |||
| Left fielder / Designated hitter | |||
| Born: November 4, 1994 Vallejo, California, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| September 12, 2017, for the Texas Rangers | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .245 | ||
| Home runs | 39 | ||
| Runs batted in | 132 | ||
| Teams | |||
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Willie Shawn Lamont Calhoun (born November 4, 1994) is an American professional baseball player. He plays as a left fielder and designated hitter. Currently, he is a free agent, meaning he is not signed with any team.
Willie Calhoun has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These include the Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Angels.
He played college baseball at the University of Arizona and Yavapai College. The Los Angeles Dodgers chose him in the 2015 MLB draft. He first played in MLB with the Rangers in 2017. He stayed with them until 2022, when he was traded to the Giants.
Early Life and High School Baseball
Willie Calhoun was named after his father. His mother's name is Monica. He has a younger sister and a younger brother.
High School Achievements
Calhoun went to Benicia High School in Benicia, California. He played baseball there for three years as an infielder. He was a great hitter, with a batting average of .435. He hit 11 home runs and had 82 runs batted in (RBIs).
He received many awards in high school. He was named Sac Joaquin All-Section in 2012 and 2013. He was also recognized as a top national prospect.
The Tampa Bay Rays picked him in the 2013 Major League Baseball draft. However, he decided not to sign with them. Instead, he chose to play college baseball for the Arizona Wildcats.
College Baseball Journey
Willie Calhoun's first year at the University of Arizona in 2014 was a bit tough. He batted .247 and played third base. He even thought about quitting baseball.
Playing at Yavapai College
In 2015, he moved to Yavapai College, which is a community college. There, he played much better. He hit .432 with 31 home runs and 85 RBIs. His 31 home runs were the most by a junior college player since Bryce Harper in 2010. After Yavapai, Calhoun planned to play for Kansas State University.
Professional Baseball Career
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers drafted Willie Calhoun in the fourth round of the 2015 MLB draft. He signed with the Dodgers instead of going to Kansas State. He started his professional career with the Ogden Raptors. He also played for the Great Lakes Loons and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. In his first 73 games, he hit .316 with 11 home runs and 47 RBIs, playing second base.
Moving Up in the Minors
In 2016, Calhoun was promoted to the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. He was chosen to play in the Texas League All-Star game. He also made the U.S. team for the All-Star Futures Game. For the Drillers, he hit 27 home runs and had 88 RBIs, which was the most in the Texas League.
After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League. He was named MVP of the Fall Stars Game, hitting a home run in the game.
In 2017, Calhoun moved up to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. He played very well and was named an all-star for the Pacific Coast League. He batted .298 with the team.
Texas Rangers
First MLB Games (2017–2018)
On July 31, 2017, the Dodgers traded Calhoun to the Texas Rangers. He continued to play well in Triple-A for the Round Rock Express. Between his two Triple-A teams, he hit .300 with 31 home runs and 93 RBIs. He was one of the best players in the league.
The Rangers called Calhoun up to the major leagues for the first time on September 12, 2017. He played 13 games for the Rangers that year. In 2018, he played 35 major league games, hitting two home runs.
Breakout Season (2019)
Calhoun worked hard and lost 25 pounds before the 2019 season. He started the year in Triple-A but was called up to the Rangers in May. He played well, but then had a strained left quadriceps injury.
He returned later in the season and played with the Rangers for the rest of the year. Calhoun had a great 2019 MLB season. He batted .269 with 21 home runs and 48 RBIs in 83 games. He mostly played in left field.
Injuries and Challenges (2020–2022)
In March 2020, during a spring training game, Calhoun was hit in the face by a very fast pitch. The impact fractured his jaw, and he needed surgery. He had worn a face shield before but had stopped.
In the 2020 season, he played 29 games but struggled to hit well after his injury.
In 2021, Calhoun faced another injury. He broke his forearm after being hit by a pitch. He needed surgery for this injury as well. He finished the 2021 season hitting .250 with six home runs in 75 games.
In 2022, Calhoun signed a contract with the Rangers. However, he struggled at the start of the season and was sent back to Triple-A. He then asked to be traded to another team.
San Francisco Giants
On June 23, 2022, the Rangers traded Calhoun to the San Francisco Giants. He played for their Triple-A team, the Sacramento River Cats. The Giants called him up to the major leagues in September. After playing four games, he was sent back to Triple-A. In October, Calhoun became a free agent.
New York Yankees
On December 31, 2022, Calhoun signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. He competed for a spot on the Yankees team during spring training. He started the 2023 season with the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
On April 8, 2023, Calhoun was added to the Yankees' main roster. In 44 games, he batted .239 with 5 home runs and 16 RBIs. He spent a month on the injured list with a left quad strain. After recovering, he was sent back to Triple-A and then became a free agent in August.
Los Angeles Angels
On December 6, 2023, Calhoun signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He played for their Triple-A team, the Salt Lake Bees. He hit .268 with one home run and 12 RBIs in 26 games.
On May 1, 2024, the Angels added Calhoun to their major league team. He played 68 games for the Angels, mostly as a designated hitter. He hit five home runs and had 20 RBIs. On August 16, he was removed from the Angels' roster and later became a free agent on October 1.
Tigres de Quintana Roo
On March 4, 2025, Calhoun signed with the Tigres de Quintana Roo in the Mexican League. He played 73 games for the team, hitting .278 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs. He was released by the Tigres on July 24, 2025.
