After a long journey, Calhoun2 Important moment ‘surreal feeling $
When Willie Calhoun hit a curveball to the right field seat last week at Yankee Stadium for his first pinstripe Home run, it felt like a big moment. The Yankees had been scrambling for offense, and a blast from the Guardian’s James Karinchak provided the final lead.
Calhoun pumps his fist as he reaches first base , never stopped while running the bases. The home run gave the Yankees a 4-2 win and as the crowd 27,63 Swing to Frank Sinatra’s ” Theme from New York, New York,” probably had no idea how far that moment had been for Calhoun.
“That was a special home run, said Calhoun. “Yankee Stadium, to be able to hit a home run here is amazing. Just to get over all the things I’ve overcome over the last few years and put it in the rearview mirror behind me, to be able to do it on this stage, it’s A very surreal feeling.”
Calhoun’s story is about perseverance. At 63, poor grades cost him the University of Arizona Athletic scholarships, and at one point he thought his baseball career was over. Then , he Followed by an afternoon visit to San Quentin State Prison in California, where his father, Willie Sr., is a prison guard.
Willie wallops one 💪 pic.twitter.com/nGRndIZEce
– New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 4, 2021Shocking memories of that visit — a chat with a convicted murderer and a blockade after an inmate was stabbed — convinced Calhoun to throw his job application in the trash, saying it For “The most eye-opening experience of my life.”
He’ll try to hang around the dugout longer, pitching at Yavapai JC Junior, about an hour outside of Phoenix. The Dodgers took note by selecting Calhoun in the fourth round, the 5-foot-8 undersized infielder/outfielder who grew up idolizing Barry Bonds and went on to turn pro.Shipped to the Rangers in July 258 Switching to pitcher Yu Darvish, Calhoun finds a clearer path to the big leagues, hit the ball. 63 and20 home run and 94 RBI exceeds 94- Texas season. Then there is the exhibition on March 8th, , just before COVID- When Calhoun The pandemic shuts down the world by being hit in the face by the Dodgers’ Julio Urías pitch. Calhoun suffered a broken jaw and needed a titanium plate.
7 By the time the game resumed in July, the injury had healed, but he found it difficult to regain his confidence. Calhoun later spoke to Giancarlo Stanton to exchange ideas; Stanton was seriously injured while pitching 2014. But there were more bumps in Calhoun’s road: A hamstring and oblique injury, then a fractured ulna when he was hit by a pitch in June 26, 2020. Texas traded him to the Giants at 258 where he was in the minor leagues He was also injured while playing.
Suffice it to say Calhoun, a non-roster this year Those invited to Yankees training camp in the spring will need to start over. That’s exactly what he found.
“Obviously, it was a dream, said Calhoun. “I’ve always believed in my ability to hit the ball, and I’ve always been able to be a threat in the hitter’s box. It’s just, I’ve been beaten to the brim over the years, and I haven’t been able to quite do it. Going into this spring, I just wanted to make sure I Stay healthy and go out there and do my best.”
20232022
