JOHN WILLIAMSON
JOHN WILLIAMSON
BA GRADE
55
Risk: Medium
SCOUTING GRADES
HIT: 60.
POW: 60.
SPD: 30.
FLD: 30.
ARM: 40.
Projected future grades on 20-80 scouting scale
Born: Nov. 4, 1994. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-8. Wt.: 195. Drafted: Yavapai (Ariz) JC, 2015 (4th round). Signed by: Dustin Yount (Dodgers).
The Rays drafted Calhoun in the 17th round of the 2013 draft, but he opted to go to college instead. He played his freshman year at Arizona, then went to the Cape Cod League that summer. He returned to campus in the fall, but after being dismissed for academic reasons, Calhoun transferred to Yavapai (Ariz.) JC in 2015 and led all junior college hitters with 31 home runs. After the season, Calhoun signed with the Dodgers for $347,500 as a fourth-round pick and immediately showed his bat would translate. In 2017, Calhoun was continuing to rake at Triple-A when the Dodgers dealt him to the Rangers as the centerpiece of the Yu Darvish trade. He stayed in the Pacific Coast League after the trade, then made his big league debut as a September callup.
Calhoun has a smaller, stocky frame, but frequent reminders he’s too small or too slow help fuel his motivation. Calhoun is one of the most talented hitting prospects in game, with an outstanding combination of barrel control and power. He has great rhythm and balance in the batter’s box, quick hands and powerful hip rotation. He has good hand-eye coordination and a compact swing that stays on plane through the hitting zone for a long time. He has great plate coverage, with little problem handling premium velocity or barreling breaking pitches. He seldom swings and misses and struck out just 11 percent of the time at Triple-A. He hit 32 home runs in 2017 and could be a 35-plus home run threat in the big leagues. Calhoun’s stature gives him a smaller strike zone to cover, and he doesn’t expand it by chasing much. He tried playing second base with the Dodgers, but he’s a well below-average runner with a below-average arm who didn’t show much range at the position and often struggled to make routine plays. Calhoun showed some signs of progress in 2017, but in June the Dodgers started getting him work in left field. After joining the Rangers, Calhoun played left field almost exclusively.
The Rangers still plan to give Calhoun reps at second base, but Rougned Odor will force him to develop into an adequate left fielder. Calhoun will either DH or give away some runs with his defense, but he will create plenty of them with his bat. He’s ready for an everyday job in Texas.
TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE
Year |
Player, Pos. |
2017 Org |
2008 |
Elvis Andrus, SS |
Rangers |
2009 |
Neftali Feliz, RHP |
Royals |
2010 |
Neftali Feliz, RHP |
Royals |
2011 |
Martin Perez, LHP |
Rangers |
2012 |
Jurickson Profar, SS |
Rangers |
2013 |
Jurickson Profar, SS/2B |
Rangers |
2014 |
Rougned Odor, 2B |
Rangers |
2015 |
Joey Gallo, 3B |
Rangers |
2016 |
Joey Gallo, 3B |
Rangers |
2017 |
Leody Taveras, OF |
Rangers |
BEST TOOLS
Best Hitter for Average |
Willie Calhoun |
Best Power Hitter |
Willie Calhoun |
Best Strike-Zone Discipline |
Drew Robinson |
Fastest Baserunner |
Bubba Thompson |
Best Athlete |
Bubba Thompson |
Best Fastball |
Hans Crouse |
Best Curveball |
A.J. Alexy |
Best Slider |
Kyle Cody |
Best Changeup |
Yohander Mendez |
Best Control |
Collin Wiles |
Best Defensive Catcher |
Jose Trevino |
Best Defensive Infielder |
Michael de Leon |
Best Infield Arm |
Anderson Tejeda |
Best Defensive Outfielder |
Leody Taveras |
Best Outfield Arm |
Leody Taveras |
Year |
Club (League) |
Class |
AVG |
G |
AB |
R |
H |
2015 |
Ogden (PIO) |
R |
.278 |
38 |
151 |
28 |
42 |
|
Great Lakes (MWL) |
LoA |
.393 |
15 |
61 |
9 |
24 |
|
R. Cucamonga (CAL) |
HiA |
.329 |
20 |
73 |
11 |
24 |
2016 |
Tulsa (TL) |
AA |
.254 |
132 |
503 |
75 |
128 |
2017 |
Oklahoma City (PCL) |
AAA |
.298 |
99 |
373 |
64 |
111 |
|
Round Rock (PCL) |
AAA |
.310 |
29 |
113 |
16 |
35 |
|
Texas (AL) |
MAJ |
.265 |
13 |
34 |
3 |
9 |
Major League Totals |
.265 |
13 |
34 |
3 |
9 |
||
Minor League Totals |
.286 |
333 |
1274 |
203 |
364 |
||
Year |
Club (League) |
2B |
3B |
HR |
RBI |
BB |
2015 |
Ogden (PIO) |
13 |
1 |
7 |
26 |
23 |
|
Great Lakes (MWL) |
3 |
0 |
1 |
8 |
5 |
|
R. Cucamonga (CAL) |
7 |
0 |
3 |
14 |
7 |
2016 |
Tulsa (TL) |
25 |
1 |
27 |
88 |
45 |
2017 |
Oklahoma City (PCL) |
24 |
5 |
23 |
67 |
36 |
|
Round Rock (PCL) |
3 |
1 |
8 |
26 |
6 |
|
Texas (AL) |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
Major League Totals |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
2 |
|
Minor League Totals |
75 |
8 |
69 |
229 |
122 |
|
Year |
Club (League) |
SO |
SB |
CS |
OBP |
SLG |
2015 |
Ogden (PIO) |
18 |
2 |
1 |
.371 |
.517 |
|
Great Lakes (MWL) |
7 |
0 |
0 |
.439 |
.492 |
|
R. Cucamonga (CAL) |
13 |
0 |
0 |
.390 |
.548 |
2016 |
Tulsa (TL) |
65 |
0 |
0 |
.318 |
.469 |
2017 |
Oklahoma City (PCL) |
49 |
3 |
2 |
.357 |
.574 |
|
Round Rock (PCL) |
12 |
1 |
0 |
.345 |
.566 |
|
Texas (AL) |
7 |
0 |
0 |
.324 |
.353 |
Major League Totals |
7 |
0 |
0 |
.324 |
.353 |
|
Minor League Totals |
164 |
6 |
3 |
.348 |
.520 |
|