Texas Rangers: Willie Calhoun’s bad luck injury streak continues

Texas Rangers’ OF Willie Calhoun is expected to start the 2021 MLB season on the injured list as he battles a sore groin.

The Rangers front office is being cautious with the 26-year-old as they aspire to finally see the full potential that the young star has flashed before.

Calhoun’s luck when it comes to staying healthy hasn’t been the best.

Since Willie Calhoun can’t shake the bad mojo, I wanted to take a look back at his injury track record that’s halted his growth thus far in the Rangers organization.

2019: Despite a career year in his first full season with the Texas Rangers, the bad luck streak begins. 

After traveling back and forth from the minors to the big leagues in his first two seasons with Texas, the 2019 season was the first time Willie got some serious big league playing time.

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In an amazing start, Calhoun batted .435/.458/.749/1.197 until developing a left quad strain. He was placed on the 10-day IL only to be sent back to triple-A after his return to Arlington didn’t go as planned.

After the All-Star break, Calhoun would replace the injured OF Joey Gallo, and play the remainder of the 2019 season. In 83 games, he finished batting .269 with 21 home runs and 48 RBIs.

Although the injury unexpectedly put the hot start to his season on hold, Willie’s stock was still promising and he was proving to the front office that he had a place on this Ranger’s roster moving forward.

The hope was that 2020 would be the year Calhoun became a Rangers star.

A string of injuries strike out Calhoun’s 2020 season with the Texas Rangers.

Before the pandemic shocked the world, the excitement was high for the outfielder that impressed so many in 2019.

All was well until March 8th, 2020.

In a Cactus league game against the LA Dodgers, his former team, Willie would take a 95-mph fastball to the face from Julio Urías. In a scary sight, Calhoun ended up leaving with a fractured jaw and required immediate surgery the next day.

This setback was only the beginning as Calhoun suffered a hamstring injury on August 19th against the San Diego Padres to add to the madness. Willie only played 29 games where he recorded 19 hits, one homer, and batted a low .190 in the short season.

While Willie Calhoun may be inactive to start the season, 2021 is a very critical year for #5.

The front office still hopes that Willie can either replicate or surpass the 2019 season. Calhoun will have to impress quickly as his absence has left the door open for others this spring training.

We all wish a speedy recovery for Willie Calhoun and anticipate to see more of the fan favorite very soon.