Rangers' Willie Calhoun suffers forearm fracture after getting hit by pitch

Rangers left fielder/DH Willie Calhoun fractured his forearm after being hit by a Kris Bubic pitch during Saturday's game against the Royals, manager Chris Woodward told reporters, including Jeff Wilson. A more definitive timetable for his recovery won’t become clear until he undergoes further testing, but he’s obviously looking at a rather significant absence.

It’s unfortunately the latest in a series of injuries that have befallen Calhoun in recent years. The 26-year-old has spent time on the injured list due to leg issues in each of the last three seasons, and he was struck in the face by a Julio Urías pitch during spring training in 2020. Those persistent health problems have kept the promising hitter from picking up more than 337 plate appearances in any single major league season.

Calhoun has made 226 trips to the dish this year, hitting at a league average level (.254/.323/.385). That’s not the high-end offensive output the Rangers are hoping for from a player with limited defensive utility, but Calhoun still seems to have the potential to make more of an impact. He was a highly regarded offensive player during his time as a prospect, and he looked to be on the verge of a breakout after putting up a .269/.323/.524 line in 2019.

Calhoun hasn’t hit for anywhere near that level of power this year, but he’s been one the game’s toughest players to punch out (11.9% strikeout rate). His batted-ball metrics also indicate he’s made more quality contact to this point than his bottom-line numbers would suggest. The left-handed hitter is scheduled to reach arbitration eligibility for the first time after the season.