TAMPA – After a couple of injury-plagued and unproductive seasons, Willie Calhoun knew he wanted to hit the bottom operating this spring.
The Yankees’ non-roster invitee sometimes will get off to a gradual begin in camp, however that wasn’t an choice if he needed to make the Bombers’ Opening Day lineup. So Calhoun started his offseason swinging program a month sooner than regular this previous winter.
“I kind of wanted to just get back to my old self,” the nook outfielder informed The Daily News. “I was banged up a lot the last three years, and it was my first offseason where I could really focus on being healthy and making sure that I put myself in a good position offensively to get back to where I want to be. Because I know I can provide a lot of value.”
Calhoun has flexed a few of that worth over 38 plate appearances this spring, taking a .344 common, .947 OPS, two doubles, one residence run, three RBI and 6 walks into Monday’s off day. Per Baseball Reference’s Opponent Quality statistic, Calhoun has collectively confronted Double-A-level competitors, however he’s impressed his coaches nonetheless.
“He can hit,” Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone repeated Saturday after Calhoun smoked a two-bagger in opposition to the Blue Jays. “Feel like he’s in a good place right now. But he knows where the barrel is.”
Calhoun, 28, has had some massive league success that helps his skipper’s sentiment. The Vallejo, California native loved a profession yr with the Rangers in 2019, when he clubbed 21 homers whereas posting a good .269/.323 /.524 slash line. But the aforementioned accidents – together with erratic pitches that shattered his jaw in 2020 and his forearm in 2021 – restricted the lefty swinger’s availability and made him uneasy on the plate within the following years.
The jaw incident required an air-lift to the hospital. As previous and current teammate Isiah Kiner-Falefa informed the Daily News, Calhoun “was very unlucky with the Rangers,” and he had an uneventful four-game stint with the Giants final season.
“When you break your bones, you get hit by pitches, it kind of makes you a little bit gun shy and you’re timid to get back into the box,” mentioned Calhoun, who’s hit .221/.286/.335 and appeared in simply 126 MLB video games since 2019. “So I put that all behind me during the offseason. That’s why I wanted to start earlier this year, just so I can get myself back into that swing of things.”
While Calhoun’s port-side pop made him an intriguing minor league signing when the Yankees inked him in January, it’s his improved protection that’s stored him in competition for a roster spot.
Drafted by the Dodgers as a second baseman, Calhoun didn’t totally transition to the outfield till after the 2017 commerce that despatched him to Texas and introduced Yu Darvish to Los Angeles. But it wasn’t a seamless change.
Knocked as a legal responsibility within the area or a person with out a true place prior to now, Calhoun acknowledged the advantage in these criticisms and sought to do one thing about it upon becoming a member of a Yankees group that noticed untapped potential.
“I’ve always been labeled as a bad defender, so I’ve been getting after it this spring with the outfield coaches here, and they’ve taught me a lot so far,” he mentioned. “There’s more to that side of the game I can grow from.”
Luis Rojas, the Yanks’ third base and outfield coach, has been enamored with Calhoun’s willingness to study. The ex-Mets supervisor credited minor league coaches Raul Dominguez, Dan Fiorito and Jose Javier for implementing a plan to develop Calhoun’s protection, which included methods to enhance his first step and preparation for Yankee Stadium’s vastly completely different nook outfield spots.
“I really want to give kudos to him, because he was willing to listen to what we do here and how we envision his outfield play for us,” Rojas informed The News. “He’s swung the bat so great. And he’s been so coachable. So it’s definitely been a delight to work with and be around him. Everyone’s pulling for him.”
Added Boone: “I feel like he’s more than held his own to this point. I don’t think he’s been challenged really with much, but he’s handled every routine play that he should handle.”
While Calhoun has been thought-about a darkish horse candidate for the Yankees’ left area job, Rojas and Boone signaled that he is likely to be a greater slot in proper area at Yankee Stadium, the place left is essentially the most cavernous outfield place.
Calhoun, nonetheless, didn’t shrink back from the problem left supplies within the Bronx.
“Wherever they need me, I would feel comfortable,” he mentioned. “I get acclimated pretty quickly.”
Of course, Calhoun nonetheless has to crack the Yankees’ roster, whether or not or not it’s to start out the season or down the highway. He informed The News that he believes he has an opt-out in his contract, however he wasn’t positive of the deadline. Calhoun’s agent didn’t instantly reply to a request for clarification.
Calhoun prefers a future in pinstripes, although, and he cited a couple of components when explaining why he signed with the Yankees. For one, the presence of two ex-Rangers teammates, Kiner-Falefa and Jose Trevino, supplied associates, familiarity and perception. “They both spoke very highly of this clubhouse,” Calhoun mentioned.
He additionally discovered Yankee Stadium’s quick proper area porch attractive. Between that and the brand new restrictions on the shift, Calhoun believes he can significantly increase his output. He famous that hitting alongside the likes of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo, DJ LeMahieu and others would assist, too.
“Being in this lineup, I can be myself,” Calhoun added. “I don’t have to go out there and try to hit a home run. I can be a low-volume guy, but I can also produce.”
While Calhoun is as soon as once more assured after a couple of down years and has the assist of his coaches, he’s not able to make any declarations in terms of his standing on the organizational depth chart. The Yankees are weighing their outfield choices, and spring coaching is just not over but.
Calhoun nonetheless has work to do if he desires to start out the season in New York, however he’s pressured himself into the combination.
“It don’t matter if I make the team or not,” Calhoun mentioned when requested if he’s executed sufficient to win a job. “Obviously, I’d like to make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster, however I can’t management what they resolve.
“I know I’m gonna give it my all no matter what.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com