Calhoun shoring up his defense
Hitting has not been a problem for second base prospect Willie Calhoun. With some improvement on defense in Oklahoma City, Calhoun might find his way to the big leagues.
Willie Calhoun stands near second base all alone.
It’s at least four hours before the game. For the Oklahoma City Dodgers’ prized second base prospect, this is the time to improve.
OKC manager Bill Haselman is giving directions and helping through drills.
Calhoun fields the ball and works on his throws from various angles. He works on ranging to the left and right. He works on turning double plays.
For a 22-year-old already regarded as an advanced hitter, improving his defense is his next step to the big leagues. He spent the better part of spring training focusing on that, and a few weeks into the season he continues spending considerable time working.
“I feel like I’m getting a lot better,” Calhoun said before Monday’s game against Memphis at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. “Definitely, I’ve come a long way from when I first signed, but I feel like overall I’m getting a lot better and I feel more comfortable now.”
Calhoun simply hasn’t looked comfortable throughout his short professional career.
Selected in the fourth round of the 2015 draft from Yavapi College, Calhoun committed 18 errors in 65 games that summer. Last season with DoubleA Tulsa, he committed 21 in 119 games.
But this season he’s committed just two in 14 games. He’s shown more range and athleticism thanks to the extra work and new strength and conditioning program with performance coach Cory Ritter.
“He’s working really, really hard,” Haselman said. “He’s progressed. The basic stuff is becoming more and more natural to him.”
Calhoun’s focus on his defense has yet to affect his bat.
He’s hitting .311 with five RBIs. And despite not hitting a homer, he’s hit to all sides of the field, something OKC hitting coach Shawn Wooten noticed Calhoun failed to use in the past.
Wooten made a mechanical adjustment with Calhoun’s hips, and it’s made a huge difference.
“I feel like that’s the biggest thing I’ve heard my whole life with hitting,” Calhoun said. “That’s something that clicked right away when he told me, and I feel like it could jump-start my career even more.”
For Calhoun, he’s already been on a fast path through the minor leagues. All he’s looking for is ways to improve and find his way to Los Angeles that much faster.
“His bat-to-ball skills are off the charts,” Wooten said. “I like where he’s at, and as long as he stays in the big part of the field — which is a tough thing to do — he can be a guy who hits for a high average and power.”