Former major league infielder Christian Colon is set to retire from baseball, MLBTR has learned. He will hang up his spikes after playing in the big leagues for three different teams across six seasons. Colon hopes to continue his life in baseball as a coach and one day manage in the big leagues.
Colon was selected by the Padres in the 10th round of the 2007 draft, out of Canyon High School in Anaheim, California. Just 18 years old at the time, Colon instead opted to attend California State University, Fullerton. Three years later, in the 2010 draft, the Kansas City Royals selected Colon in the first round, fourth overall.
The Royals were deep in the midst of a rebuild at the time, with 2010 marking their seventh consecutive losing season, in what would eventually be a nine-year streak. Those poor big league results allowed the team to have a series of high draft picks, which they used to launch a return to competition. Alex Gordon, Luke Hochevar, Mike Moustakas, Eric Hosmer, Mike Montgomery and Colon were all first-round selections of the Royals between 2005 and 2010. All of that group except for Montgomery eventually formed the core of the Royals club that made the World Series in consecutive years, losing to the Giants in 2014 and defeating the Mets in 2015. (Montgomery contributed indirectly, as he was part of the trade with the Rays that sent James Shields and Wade Davis to Kansas City.)
Colon climbed the ranks of the Royals’ farm system, eventually making his debut in 2014. He got into 21 games that year, hitting .333/.375/.489 over 49 plate appearances. He only got a couple of plate appearances in that 2014 postseason run for the Royals, both of which came in the Wild Card Game against the Athletics. He entered as a pinch-hitter in the tenth, laying down a successful sacrifice bunt. He stayed in the game and, after Oakland took the lead in the top of the 12th, Colon hit a game-tying single in the bottom of the inning. Moments later, Colon would score the game-winning run on Salvador Perez’s walk-off hit.
In 2015, Colon got 119 plate appearances over 43 games, hitting .290/.356/.336. As the Royals reached the fifth game of the World Series with a 3-1 series lead, Colon hadn’t had a plate appearance in four weeks. As the game stretched into extras, the Royals called on Colon to pinch-hit for the pitcher’s spot in the top of the 12th. With Jarrod Dyson on second base, Colon lined a single into left, giving the Royals a 3-2 lead. They would eventually pour it on and win the game 7-2, and capturing their first World Series title since 1985.
Colon would go on to play for the Marlins and Reds in the Majors, spending most of 2021 at Triple-A for the Blue Jays. In total, Colon played 161 games over his six seasons and hit .254/.315/.378. He played an important role in building the Kansas City team that eventually won the World Series, and can look back fondly on his postseason heroics. MLBTR congratulates Colon on a fine career and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.
Yankeesfan23
Will always remember him for hitting the dagger on the mutts in 2015!
Camden453
Uhh that dagger came from Alex Gordon
MLB Top 100 Commenter
Discarded headline:
Royal Colon unplugged.
TLB2001
Will always remember his walk and stolen base to score the run on Salvy’s hit in the ‘14 Wild Card game.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Will always remember that I don’t remember who this guy is…….?
PeteWard8
Lamar Hoyt died this past week and not a word from Trade Rumors but this unknown retires and its front page news. Come on guys.
miltpappas
Point well taken. Sometimes I wonder how some former players’ deaths get no story at all.
TLB2001
Is there a not front page?
paddyo furnichuh
@Pete…You can post it on your upcoming, yet to be announced blog and make sure to put it on the”front page.”
If you SS the image of your blog, make sure to hide other tabs in your browser.
1975Reds
Take a closer look. Hoyt’s death was posted 2 days ago.
Mmorton8888
Dang Milt. You passed away in 2016 and still bitter about no headline? Ghosts hold grudges apparently.
Moneyballer
Uhh that was Alex Gordon.
tstats
Enjoy retirement!
LordD99
“The Royals were deep in the midst of a rebuild at the time…”
Aren’t they always?
TLB2001
Sorry I couldn’t read this post because I was thinking about two pennants in the last 10 years which only 5 other teams can say.
Camden453
“Christian Colon? Who’s he?” -Rickey Henderson
gmenfan
… and 95% of the people who read this article.
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Named his son Semi Colon;
bobtillman
and his was the famous Sigmoid Colon
Chipper Jones' illegitimate kid
I’ve heard of a Christian Heart, but what the hell is a Christian Colon?
louwhitakerisahofer
Any relation to Colon O’scopy?
bobtillman
One that passes very easily.
I’ll leave the room now.
paddyo furnichuh
@Bon…you’re not alone! Many failed jokes in this thread, and they all seem to be based on mispronunciation of the Christian’s last name.
paddyo furnichuh
@Bob*
FullMontilla
Bartolo’s son
mikevm3
Didn’t live up to that high draft pick but made up for it with those clutch playoff moments.
Camden453
This is why I say guys like Jorge Soler or Howie Kendrick are the actual top players in the game
There’s certain guys like Soler when they get to the World Series and it’s the championship bout they come alive
geg42
Taken ahead of Yasmani Grandal (12) , Chris Sale (13) and Christian Yelich (23)
Cody1981
Has more rings than all of them combined and more 162 game World Series rings than the 1989-present dodgers teams combined
paddyo furnichuh
Chris Sale did not get a ring when he won with the Red Sox in ‘18?
Yankee-4-Lifer 75
Colonoscopy
whyhayzee
Bartolo’s great grandson.
leefieux
Bartolo was a better hitter. 🙂
poolerh
The Braves had Francisco Cabrera, the Royals had Colon,
miltpappas
Little Sexy.
Bart Harley Jarvis
I’m waiting for someone to comment that Christian Colon has banked nearly $1.6m and played in MLB, and that everyone else on this site didn’t and should therefore shut up. Come on, somebody wants to…
PeteWard8
Except some people on this site did play pro ball so maybe you should shut up.
Go Bears
MarlinsFanBase
Even the ones that did pro ball didn’t make that much.
whyhayzee
Pitch Guy – Your name must refer to Jim, not Joe.
FredMcGriff for the HOF
I’m pretty sure it’s just a parody account of fever pitch guy.
Bart Harley Jarvis
Yeah, Fever Pitch Guy was giving Fever Pitch Guys grief for riding his coattails, so I dog piled him with LeFebvre Pitch Guy. It’s something of which I’m not proud.
Dorothy_Mantooth
If he was the #4 overall pick, he made a lot more in draft pick signing bonuses than the $1.6M he earned playing baseball. If he was smart with his money, he still walked away from baseball a millionaire which is better than most of us can say.
Bart Harley Jarvis
Dot,
But not all of us. And I won’t release my tax returns until after the audit has been completed.
LordD99
$1.6M isn’t all that much.
He made more though — $4.3M when you include his signing bonus.
Ron Tingley
1.6 million isn’t all that much. Lol
No Soup For Yu!
If he wanted to live off of that for the rest of his life, it would come out to about $32k per year if he lives into his 80s. He has a big signing bonus so it’s a moot point, but if he wanted to live off of $1.6 million for the rest of his life, he’d have to live somewhat frugally. It’s good money of course, but it’s not all that much spread over a lifetime all things considered, unless he gets another job.
Prospectnvstr
Hey Punch: Nobody else needs to mention it sense you already did. Just sayin…
The best23
Retirement what joke he nop even play just
Curly Was The Smart Stooge
Looks like you’re well into that 12 pack!
MarlinsFanBase
Christian, you can go on to your coaching career. Give Deven Marrero a call…in between his DFA moments. He’ll make a good coach with you.
Metsin777
Mets worst nightemare
Waddupitsyahboy
He at least got a ML HR!
Prospectnvstr
He also has a World Series ring.
quonset point
I, too, had a Royal Colon Clearing this morning.
Yankee-4-Lifer 75
A royal colon flush? Whatever works.
mrgreenjeans
Wow.. who cares
Astros Hot Takes
2 Yrs (3 Series) 3 3 2 2 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 1.000 1.000 1.000 2.000
yamsi1912
See you in Cooperstown!
HankHill
Tickets are $25
jessaumodesto
Dayam
Dorothy_Mantooth
Sometimes after eating chili, I wish my colon would retire too.
Bigtimeyankeefan
Pete ward is right… Lamar Hoyt passed away… why has this site not mentioned it?
TLB2001
Frankly disappointed at the level of name jokes in this comment section. This is the best you can do? You guys are falling off your game.
schellis 2
Always felt he didn’t get much of a chance. His aaa numbers looked like he could have been a useful bench player but I guess he didn’t field enough for middle if or hit enough for the bat to play anywhere but.
Ron Tingley
With all the butt jokes, the guy hit .250 with an .310 OBP. Hit a homer and got paid to do so.. and yet, here we are
Bart Harley Jarvis
And don’t fail to mention all that bank!
FullMontilla
Bartolo’s son
User 3663041837
Christian Colon hit his only big league home run off Dillon Overton in 2016. Oddly enough that made me remember that Pat Rockett also hit one career home run. His was off Mark Lemongello who was pitching with the Astros in 1977. Anyway the only thing they have in common is they were both first round infielder picks and each had one career home run.
Prospectnvstr
But does Pat Rocket have a World Series ring?
UKPhil
I’m having trouble remembering him and he played briefly for the Marlins. I wish him and his family all the best for the future.
Moneyballer
He makes a mistake out there….Colon Blow.
DodgerOK
Good for him! He earned a ring and came through in big moments. Great memories for him