Kole Calhoun is a former professional baseball player who spent the majority of his career as a right fielder for the Los Angeles Angels. He was born on October 14, 1987, in Buckeye, Arizona, and attended Arizona State University, where he played college baseball for the Sun Devils.
Calhoun was drafted by the Angels in the eighth round of the 2010 MLB draft and made his major league debut on May 22, 2012. He quickly established himself as a reliable outfielder with a strong arm and a knack for making clutch plays. He also showed promise as a hitter, finishing his rookie season with a .282 batting average, eight home runs, and 32 RBIs in just 78 games.
Over the next several years, Calhoun continued to improve his game, becoming a consistent contributor to the Angels' lineup. He was known for his power hitting, with a career-high 33 home runs in 2019, as well as his ability to get on base, with a career on-base percentage of .325. He was also a solid defender, winning a Gold Glove award in 2015 for his work in right field.
Despite his individual success, Calhoun's time with the Angels was marked by team struggles. The Angels made the playoffs just once during his tenure, in 2014, and were unable to advance past the first round. Calhoun became a free agent after the 2019 season and signed a two-year contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In his first season with the Diamondbacks, Calhoun continued to produce at the plate, hitting 16 home runs and driving in 40 runs in just 54 games. However, he suffered a hamstring injury in August that ended his season prematurely. He struggled to regain his form in 2021, hitting just .226 with 11 home runs in 83 games before being traded to the New York Yankees in July.
Calhoun's time with the Yankees was short-lived, as he was designated for assignment just a few weeks later. He ultimately decided to retire from baseball in September 2021, ending a nine-year career that saw him hit 152 home runs, drive in 520 runs, and compile a .249 batting average.
Throughout his career, Calhoun was known for his work ethic and his leadership on and off the field. He was a fan favorite in both Los Angeles and Arizona, and his contributions to the game will be remembered by baseball fans for years to come.
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