Kole Calhoun

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #11 prospect in 2013
  After Calhoun spent his first full pro season in high Class A Inland Empire in 2011, the Angels pushed him to Triple-A Salt Lake to start 2012 and he didn't disappoint. He made his major league debut in May and stayed with the Angels for a couple of weeks before returning to Triple-A, then came back to Anaheim at the end of August. Calhoun's tools are uninspiring, but club officials gush about his makeup. He's a smart player with outstanding instincts and a leader who brings out the best in his teammates. He's an aggressive player in all aspects of the game. Calhoun compensates for modest bat speed by getting himself ready to hit with a compact swing and a keen idea of the strike zone. He keeps the barrel in the zone a long time and surprises with sneaky power that grades out as close to average. He's a below-average runner but a good defender in right field. His arm, above-average in terms of both strength and accuracy, is his best tool. Calhoun's ceiling is probably limited to that of an extra outfielder, but he's a lefty bat in a predominantly righthanded-hitting Angels outfield and he's the type of players managers love, so he should get plenty of opportunities to stick around. He'll try to crack the Opening Day roster, though the Angels' November waiver claim of Scott Cousins didn't help Calhoun's cause.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #20 prospect in 2012
  Calhoun batted .321/.478/.616 with 17 homers in 224 at-bats as an Arizona State senior in 2010 and lasted until the eighth round of the draft because his maxed-out physique left little room for projection. Signed for $36,000, he jumped straight to high Class A in 2011 and hit .324/.410/.547 with 64 extra-base that ranked third in the California League. Calhoun wins admirers not for his raw tools but for his blue-collar approach, plate discipline and professionalism. He sees his share of pitches and knows what he can handle, seldom missing a pitch he can drive. He's confident and doesn't dwell on bad at-bats. Scouts who believe in Calhoun say he compensates for fringy bat speed with a strong, leveraged swing, but he'll still probably be better suited to a reserve role than a starting job. He provides at least average range on the outfield corners and at first base, and his plus arm strength is a good match for right field. Though he grades out as a below-average runner, he swiped 20 bases in 30 tries last year because of strong instincts. He also played 22 games in center field, though a big league team probably would have a better option. Calhoun will head to Double-A in 2012.