HOUSTON -- Kole Calhoun rejoined the team in Houston after missing three games to be with his wife for the birth of their son Knox, who weighed 8 pounds upon arrival on Monday.
Calhoun was not in the starting lineup on Thursday as the Angels opened a four-game series at Minute Maid Park. As a pinch hitter, however, Calhoun struck out swinging with runners at second and third to end the seventh inning in the Angels' 2-0 win.
Calhoun did not play in the field on Thursday. Manager Mike Scioscia said the right fielder will be in the starting lineup on Friday.
"I definitely have some things on my mind," Calhoun said. "But this is what I do, this is what we signed up for. I knew that sometime in September it was going to get a little crazy. It's not like you're not trying to win baseball games, but I'm playing for something more now.
"It's nice when something like [having a child] happens, because you don't put so much emphases on [baseball]. You go out and play and perform. This game can wear on you at times. When you've got something to look forward to when you come home, it's definitely easier to go out and play and not dwell on at-bats and what happens."
Calhoun, who hit a career-high 26 home runs in 2015, hit his 17th homer of the season Saturday. He is the first Angels right fielder with consecutive 15-plus homer seasons since Torii Hunter in 2011 and '12.
Calhoun took batting practice on Thursday and went through pregame activities.