Rangers OF Calhoun seeks trade after demotion

Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun, a as soon as extremely regarded prospect, has requested to be traded after being demoted to the minors.

Calhoun publicly acknowledged his commerce request Sunday in an interview with The Athletic, saying “I do not know if I will play one other sport in a Rangers uniform, and I allow them to know that.”

Calhoun was optioned to Triple-A Spherical Rock after Sunday’s victory over the Atlanta Braves as a part of the Rangers’ effort to trim their roster to 26 gamers.

Rangers normal supervisor Chris Younger advised The Athletic that the group is “trying to get Willie going,” however Calhoun mentioned he sees the demotion as a chance to “put myself ready to get traded. I do need to be traded.”

After battling accidents earlier in his profession, Calhoun has struggled to safe a constant function with the Rangers over the past two seasons. He batted .250 with six dwelling runs in 260 at-bats in 2021 and has gotten off to a sluggish begin this season as properly, batting simply .136 (6-for-44) with one homer in 18 video games.

“I do know I could be a .300 hitter,” Calhoun advised The Athletic. “It is gonna be in a unique uniform, for certain. … I do not know if I will play one other sport in a Rangers uniform, and I allow them to know that.”

Calhoun, 27, was the centerpiece prospect whom the Rangers acquired of their 2017 blockbuster commerce that despatched Yu Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Extensively considered a top-50 total prospect, Calhoun batted .300 with 31 homers within the minors in 2017 and confirmed indicators of promise with the Rangers in 2019 — his finest season within the majors — when he hit .269 with 21 homers in simply 83 video games.

However accidents, Texas’ crowded outfield and Calhoun’s offensive struggles all have contributed to his lack of constant enjoying time for the reason that begin of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

“I have been wanting out for the final 12 months, 12 months and a half,” he advised The Athletic. “I really feel like I want a change of surroundings.”

Calhoun additionally talked about his disagreement with the “hitting philosophies” of the Rangers’ employees, figuring out himself as a line-drive hitter who “cannot hit popup dwelling runs. I haven’t got that leverage.”

Rangers supervisor Chris Woodward advised The Athletic that he thinks Calhoun’s swing not too long ago has “gone a bit of bit backwards” and that the crew has “requested him to work a bit of bit extra vertical along with his swing,” but in addition famous that he doesn’t see the demotion as a “long-term answer.”

“That is what we really feel is finest for Willie, and for the crew. … However Willie must make, I would not say a major change,” Woodward mentioned. “However he is obtained to have a bit of bit extra understanding of how that type of works finest for him. Hopefully, he’ll take the plan now we have for him, go down, and he’ll get constant at-bats.”