Willie Calhoun among Texas Rangers players sent down today

The Texas Rangers have optioned Willie Calhoun, Ronald Guzman, Isiah Kiner-Falefa, Connor Sadzeck and Jose Trevino to the minor leagues today, the team announced. Trevino was optioned to AA Frisco, while the others were optioned to AAA Round Rock.

The only particularly surprising move is Calhoun being sent down, as he was supposedly in the mix for a spot on the Opening Day roster. The Rangers reportedly have been leaning towards a Drew Robinson/Ryan Rua platoon in left field to start the year, which would allow Calhoun to work more on his defense in left field in the minors (and, if he stays down until early May, allow the Rangers to get an extra year of team control from him). This effectively leaves Robinson, Rua and Carlos Tocci vying for two roster spots, although non-roster invitee Destin Hood has apparently impressed folks in camp and could possibly be a dark horse candidate for a job.

Also being sent to the minor league camp are non-roster invitees Hanser Alberto, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Scott Heineman, Paolo Espino, Reed Garrett, David Hurlbut, Christian Lopes, Tayler Scott and Adrian Sampson. No one in this group was seen as a serious contender for a spot on the Opening Day roster, and so none of these moves are particularly surprising.