The Yankees have a number of non-roster invites competing for a 26-man spot for the Opening Day roster, but none have impressed more than 2105 fourth-round pick Willie Calhoun.
Last season for the Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants, Calhoun made just 22 appearances, making 62 plate appearances. He hit .135 with a .274 OBP, one homer and three RBI with a 12.9% strikeout rate. Calhoun excels in the strikeout percentage category, recording a 15.3% average across his career.
The 28-year-old lefty dealt with a number of injuries over the years, including a broken jaw, broken arm and a number of minor issues in 2022. He has enjoyed just one serviceable season as an MLB player across six years.
In 2019, he played 83 games for the Rangers, hitting .269 with a .323 OBP, 21 homers and 48 RBI. He has more than enough power to get the ball over the outfield fence, and he’s done a great job of showing contact qualities with underrated power for the Yankees this spring.
In fact, he’s making a legitimate push for a roster spot, filling a similar role as Matt Carpenter last year, playing DH and being capable of filling in in the outfield.
Defensively, Calhoun isn’t the most athletic or productive option. He’s played 1,282 innings in left field during his career, posting a .983 fielding percentage with -14 defensive runs saved and -14 outs above average. At the very best, he can provide average defense, but his offensive qualities do indicate there’s untapped potential.
Over 30 spring training at-bats, Calhoun has posted 11 hits, four runs, a homer and three RBI. He’s hitting .367 with a .472 OBP and 1.005 OPS. While spring numbers don’t necessarily translate to the regular season, it is encouraging he is hitting consistently and found his groove.
If the Yankees are stuck picking between a few non-roster invites to include on the 26-man, Calhoun should certainly be in the mix and could end up being a productive player when called upon for the Yankees in 2023.
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