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Navarro has shown he can play outfield

ANAHEIM -- Right fielder Kole Calhoun (sprained right ankle) will be activated from the disabled list for Wednesday's series finale against the Astros, and that could mean Efren Navarro is to be sent back to Triple-A.

If Navarro departs, he'll do so having shown the Angels that he can contribute as an outfielder.

"I've obviously proven that I can make the adjustments, and I just want the team to know that I'm capable of playing out there and showing them the confidence every day," Navarro said. "And plus, I'll continue to work and get better. But whatever happens, I came up here and did my job and helped the team win."

Navarro -- taken in the 50th round of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft -- has long been the best defensive first baseman in the organization, but he had been mired in Triple-A for the vast majority of the previous three seasons and figured he'd give the outfield a shot during winter ball this past offseason.

He alerted the coaches in Spring Training, spent some time in left field with the Salt Lake Bees and has started six games in the corner outfield -- including Tuesday in right field -- since his May 9 callup, batting .318/.400/.500 in the process.

The 28-year-old has read balls well off the bat in left and right field. And on Monday he recorded his first outfield assist, cutting off Dexter Fowler's RBI single in right-center, spinning and making an on-target one-hop throw to second for the out.

"I knew I had a good arm, but there's a lot in there that I didn't know about," he said. "It's good to see."

Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Gonzo and "The Show", and follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez.
Read More: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Efren Navarro