Rangers' Willie Calhoun taken to hospital after HBP in mouth

Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun was hit in the mouth by a fastball thrown by Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias in the bottom of first inning of a spring training game Sunday in Surprise, Arizona, and was sent to an area hospital for further evaluation. 

Calhoun was able to get to his feet after being hit, and he got onto a cart while holding a towel to his face. He was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital in nearby Phoenix. 

"It's tough because I'm really, really close with Willie," Rangers slugger Joey Gallo told reporters after the game. "He's one of my best friends, so to see that happen and him go down like that -- it was really, really tough to see that. I just tried to be there for him and make sure he knew we were all around him and trying to help him and just praying that he's OK." 

Gallo was in the on-deck circle when Calhoun was hit. 

"He didn't really say anything. He didn't answer," Gallo said. "He was definitely moaning, and his mouth was really hurting. I think he was hearing [us], but he really couldn't get anything out."

Rangers manager Chris Woodward and general manager Jon Daniels left the game early to go to the hospital. Bench coach Don Wakamatsu filled in for Woodward for the remainder of Texas' 9-8 win. 

Urias told reporters he was shaken up after hitting Calhoun.

"I really had a hard time, and I didn't feel like myself out there. I've never been in a situation like that," said Urias, who struck out three in three scoreless innings. "That early in an inning, you want to go inside, and when they ask you to go inside, you have to go inside. Unfortunately, what happened happened. I pray he's OK."

Calhoun, who was selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2015 draft, was acquired by the Rangers in a 2017 trade that sent Yu Darvish to Los Angeles.

Last season, Calhoun set career highs in home runs (21), RBIs (48) and batting average (.269) in 83 games for the Rangers.