Horrible injury luck continues for Willie Calhoun, who breaks arm in Texas Rangers' victory
The designated hitter was hit by a pitch in the second inning Saturday and will miss significant time
The Associated Press/Michael Ainsworth
Willie Calhoun is out indefinitely from the Texas Rangers’ lineup with a broken left ulna after being hit by a pitch Saturday in an 8-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals.
Calhoun led off the season inning and was struck by a 79-mph changeup from left-hander Kris Bubic. Calhoun was clearly in pain, and manager Chris Woodward motioned to the bench for Andy Ibanez to prepare to enter the game.
Calhoun stayed at first base and scored the first of three Rangers runs in the inning, but Ibanez pinch hit for him before his second at-bat.
Calhoun will undergo surgery Tuesday.
“It’s, unfortunately, a fracture,” Woodward said. “We don’t know the extent to which it is. He’s got to undergo some further testing with some doctors and figure out the extent of it, but he’s going to miss some time for sure.”
This will mark the third consecutive season in which Calhoun will miss time with an injury, but this isn’t the worst injury of his career. He was struck in the face by a 95-mph fastball from Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias in a spring game in 2020.
Though Calhoun did not have a concussion, he underwent surgery and would have missed the first two months of the season if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the spring training 2.0 started last July, he suffered a hip injury that forced him to miss Opening Day and later strained a quad muscle that put him on the injured list.
Calhoun also had to overcome some apprehension against left-handed pitchers.
His IL stint in 2019 was brief and did not derail his best season in the majors.
“He’s had just some back luck, and it’s tough to see,” said right fielder Joey Gallo, who roomed with Calhoun in spring training.
UPDATE: The Rangers placed Calhoun on the 10-day injured list Sunday morning and recalled Jason Martin from Triple A Round Rock. He was the choice over David Dahl, who will complete a rehab assignment Sunday at Double A Frisco and join the Rangers on Tuesday at Oakland.
They finish a three-game series against the Royals on Sunday and are off Monday.
Martin is likely to be with the Rangers for only Sunday’s game before returning to Round Rock. With Calhoun expected to miss significant time, the Rangers could have the luxury of moving him to the 60-day IL to create a 40-man spot.
First baseman Curtis Terry continues to make a push for his MLB debut but is not on the 40-man roster.