In four games last year as the Yankees’ cleanup hitter, Willie Calhoun only collected two hits.
In one game as the Angels’ cleanup hitter in 2024, the outfielder has already recorded three.
The reasoning behind manager Ron Washington’s decision to place Calhoun in that spot for their win Friday against the Guardians, though, was a bit unusual.
Washington insisted to reporters that he selected Calhoun for the No. 4 slot by taking pieces of paper — with names written on them — and selecting them off the bed.
“I took some names and put them in a hat and shook them up and he came out fourth,” Washington said before clarifying that the process actually occurred on a bed, according to the Orange County Register.
And after reporters chuckled at that line, Washington followed up with, “Seriously. You think I’m joking,” according to the outlet.
Outfielder Jo Adell and catcher Logan O’Hoppe, two of the Angels’ young players, were reportedly in the collection of papers that Washington selected from, but he added that they’re too young and would’ve caused him to pick someone else for their cleanup spot anyway.
“I’m glad I picked Calhoun because if I would have picked up one of the kids, I would have changed my mind,” Washington said. “So it was meant to be.”
If Washington, who already needed to navigate Mike Trout’s torn meniscus during his first season as Angels manager, actually selected his order that way, the bizarre strategy worked for one night.
Calhoun, a former top prospect with the Dodgers and Rangers who has since bounced around between the Giants, Yankees and now the Angels, followed with a 3-for-4 night — recording a double, two singles and scoring once.
Last season, he appeared in 44 games with the Yankees and at one point, was part of their seemingly never-ending competition to find an everyday left fielder.
But when Aaron Judge returned from his toe injury near the end of July, Calhoun was designated for assignment.
So the Angels signed Calhoun in December, and he hit .297 with an .825 OPS in spring training before starting the season in Triple-A before his first big league game Friday.