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Rangers' Willie Calhoun suffers fractured jaw on HBP

MLB, Texas Rangers

Texas Rangers outfielder Willie Calhoun fractured his jaw after he 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. 

Calhoun was sent to St. Joseph's Hospital in nearby Phoenix after he was hit. The Rangers later said additional tests revealed the fracture and that he is expected to undergo further evaluation Monday.

The team did not release a timetable for his return. 

Calhoun was able to get to his feet after being hit, and he got onto a cart while holding a towel to his face. 

"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. 

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.

Urias, who was a teammate of Calhoun while in the Dodgers' organization, told reporters he was shaken up after hitting him.

"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."

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

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