Yankees Sign Former Top Prospect

The New York Yankees are ringing in the new year by signing a once-highly-regarded top prospect. 

The Yankees have agreed to a non-roster deal with OF Willie Calhoun, per source. Calhoun will be in big-league camp.

— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 31, 2022

It's a non-roster deal for outfielder Willie Calhoun, with an invite to the major league camp at spring training. 

Calhoun came up as a highly-touted prospect for the Texas Rangers. He put up monster numbers in the minors in 2017, with 31 HR, 93 RBIs and a .927 OPS in just 486 at-bats. The Rangers dealt for him that year as part of the package for sending Yu Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers.  

Although his first season in Texas, 2019, saw him blast 21 homers in just 309 at-bats, with an .848 OPS, he was never able to maintain that pace in the following years. 

In 2022, he batted just .136 with one homer in 18 games before Texas designated him for assignment. He was, in turn, traded to the San Francisco Giants in June.

Still only 28, he'll try to re-capture that thunder in his bat, and give it a shot with the Bronx Bombers at spring training. 

Photo: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports