Willie

Calhoun

Calhoun had been designated for assignment earlier in the week, but he passed through waivers unclaimed and will continue to serve as extra depth for the Halos at the Triple-A level. Calhoun hit .245/.315/.380 with five homers and 20 RBI in 254 plate appearances with the Angels this season.

The former top 100 prospect played in 68 games for the Angels this season but simply wasn’t able to produce even, hitting .245/.315/.380 with five home runs and 20 RBI. He did demonstrate strong contact ability and good plate discipline, but time is running out for the 29-year-old to play himself into a regular role at the big league level. He had started the last three games at designated hitter, so his departure could open up more playing time for Luis Guillorme or designated hitter opportunities for Logan O’Hoppe or perhaps even a shot for newly acquired designated hitter Niko Kavadas who came over from the Red Sox at the trade deadline.

The veteran has started five straight games but will get a rest on Wednesday. He’s hitting just .178 in 11 games in July and remains off of fantasy radars. Luis Rengifo will play third base in his place and Willie Calhoun will start at DH.

Rendon will get a rest in the final game before the break. Willie Calhoun will serve as the designated hitter and Luis Guillorme will be at the hot corner.

Calhoun tied the game at 2-2 in the first inning with a long blast off Bryan Woo. He came up in the 10th with the Angels trailing 5-4, and he obliterated an Austin Voth offering to give Los Angeles the win and Calhoun his fourth homer of the year.

Schanuel will miss another game while dealing with left thumb soreness. Willie Calhoun is getting the start at first base and hitting cleanup against Luis Castillo. Schanuel should be considered day-to-day.

Calhoun’s combination of solid exit velocities and excellent strikeout rates has never paid much in the way of dividends, but when it was least expected, he’s popped off with a .365/.382/.577 line in 55 plate appearances for the Angels this season. With limited home run power and zero speed, he still doesn’t figure to be very useful for fantasy purposes going forward. However, he might remain a perfectly solid DH for the Angels.

The 29-year-old outfielder tagged Royals’ closer James McArthur for his 391-foot (101.0 mph EV) solo shot in the ninth inning, pulling the Halos to within two runs at 4-2. That would be as close as they would get. Calhoun also doubled in the Angels’ first run in the sixth inning and singled in the ballgame. With his three-hit attack, he’s now hitting .333/.361/.606 with a homer and three RBI through his first 36 plate appearances.

The 29-year-old outfielder was promoted from Triple-A Salt Lake on Wednesday and will see his first game action in a depleted Angels’ lineup on Friday night. Perhaps now is the time that the post-post-hype sleeper will finally deliver on his long-held promise, much to the delight and admiration of fantasy managers everywhere.

The 29-year-old former top prospect gets another shot in the big leagues, helping to provide depth in an Angels’ outfield that is suddenly without Mike Trout (knee). Calhoun was off to a solid start at Triple-A Salt Lake, hitting .268/.346/.361 with a homer, 12 RBI and one stolen base through his first 26 games. He is not in the Halos’ starting lineup on Wednesday against the Phillies.