Calhoun activated, 'ready to go' after DL stint

ANAHEIM -- After five weeks on the disabled list with an ankle injury, Angels right fielder Kole Calhoun returned to the starting lineup on Wednesday, batting sixth for a team that has won nine of its last 12 and is five games over .500.

"It's going to be awesome to join a team that's playing great baseball," Calhoun said. "Hopefully I don't mess it up."

Calhoun was on a 7-for-15 stretch when he suffered a Grade 2 sprain of his right ankle while stepping on a soft patch beyond first base on April 15. Calhoun, who will likely bat leadoff again when Josh Hamilton returns next week, is fresh off going 11-for-22 with a homer during a five-game rehab stint for Triple-A Salt Lake.

The 26-year-old said his timing is "something I still have to work into," but he gained full confidence in the ankle when he was able to play the field for games on Monday night and Tuesday morning.

"I should be pretty much ready to go," Calhoun said. "There's definitely going to be some growing pains going through this thing and getting back to it and playing every day. Hopefully I just keep getting better and better as the days go on."