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Chris Colabello near to signing MiLB deal with Cleveland

King

By King
in Toronto Blue Jays Talk

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AdamGreenwood Dunedin Blue Jays

AdamGreenwood

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That time in the playoffs when the Jays were in full-panic mode and Colabello snagged the ball at first, and then ran across the diamond and tagged a guy out between home and third. That was pretty awesome.
Slot Machine College Ball

Slot Machine

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That time in the playoffs when the Jays were in full-panic mode and Colabello snagged the ball at first, and then ran across the diamond and tagged a guy out between home and third. That was pretty awesome.

 

Yes. Yes it was.

Terminator All-Star

Terminator

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That time in the playoffs when the Jays were in full-panic mode and Colabello snagged the ball at first, and then ran across the diamond and tagged a guy out between home and third. That was pretty awesome.

 

He played some pretty good defense in the playoffs that year.

CrackerJack Draft Eligible

CrackerJack

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That time in the playoffs when the Jays were in full-panic mode and Colabello snagged the ball at first, and then ran across the diamond and tagged a guy out between home and third. That was pretty awesome.

 

it was an exciting play no doubt, but ... the runner was Prince Fielder haha.

Jonn MVP

Jonn

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Everyone post your favourite CC memories here

 

ccsabathia.jpg

Pendleton Vancouver Canadians

Pendleton

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He really was a great feel good story in 2015, the former Indy league slugger who finally got his shot and ran with it. The peak was probably in early June when he had a walk off two run single against the Astros, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.

 

It really was disappointing to find out he'd been caught cheating, although he had already started to come crashing down to earth.

Bobthe4th Toronto Blue Jays

Bobthe4th

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He really was a great feel good story in 2015, the former Indy league slugger who finally got his shot and ran with it. The peak was probably in early June when he had a walk off two run single against the Astros, extending his hitting streak to 17 games.

 

It really was disappointing to find out he'd been caught cheating, although he had already started to come crashing down to earth.

 

What we'll never know is would he have had the year he had in 2015 without cheating, and if he hadn't been caught would he now be our 1B instead of Smoak.

 

He was appalling in 2016 but only after he knew he'd failed a test - mentally he basically knew his career was over before it really began (irrelevant whether he was guilty or not, he knew he'd be banned because he'd tested positive).

 

In all likelihood he'd have been at best a replacement level player this season, but you never know.

KingKat All-Star

KingKat

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He was tested multiple times in 2015 and passed

 

As was Dee Gordon. They were also caught with the same stuff which simply suggests that MLB got better at detecting it later in the drug's cycle. I think it's quite likely that Colabelo's level of disbelief at being caught was related to this. He was tested at a time where in previous year's the drug would have avoided detection. Stumpft, Gordon, Colabello all got caught with the same stuff. That speaks volumes to me.

wamco Draft Eligible

wamco

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To be fair , it was 139 ab in aaa. But you are probably right. Met him at aaa autograph day and was very engaging and fun with the crowd. Bautista was there that day and didn't participate. Hutch was nice as well. Pompey is clean and he can't rip up aaa yet
ChrisS College Ball

ChrisS

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If he was clean he would have been able to put up somewhat decent numbers at AAA after his suspension was over.

I doubt the breakout season he had in 2015 can be entirely attributed to a steroid.

 

It's likely his poor performance over a small sample size in AAA is the result of a regression in BABIP and the mental effect of having his career end (at his age), just as it was looking like it would take off.

  • 2 years later...
Olerud363 FCL Blue Jays

Olerud363

Old-Timey Member
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Is Colbello still playing baseball?

 

Hi Todd (not the prospect Todd, the other Todd)

 

Chris Colabello apparently plays for the Suger Land Skeeters. I learned this from google. Also since you made me go google it for you I'm going to take this opportunity to rant for a while.

 

I started watching Brockmire the other day, and I picture Colabello's new team mates as guys like Pedro Uribe and Yoshi Takatsu.

 

That's all. Don't actually have too much time to rant right now.

Pendleton Vancouver Canadians

Pendleton

Old-Timey Member
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Christopher Adrian Colabello (born October 24, 1983) is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He played parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and Toronto Blue Jays, after playing seven seasons in independent baseball.

 

Born in Framingham, Massachusetts, Colabello grew up in Rimini, Italy. His mother, Silvanna, was born in Rimini, and his father, Lou, played baseball in Italy for seven years, later pitching in the 1984 Olympics.[2] The family moved back to Massachusetts in 1991.[3] Colabello graduated from Milford High School in Milford, Massachusetts.[4] He then attended NCAA Division II Assumption College, but was not drafted by an MLB team.

 

Prior to joining the Twins organization in 2012, he played seven seasons in the independent Can-Am League for the Worcester Tornadoes (2005–2011) and Nashua Pride (part of 2007)

 

In 2012, his first season of affiliated baseball, Colabello batted .284 with 19 home runs and 98 runs batted in (RBI) for the New Britain Rock Cats of the Double-A Eastern League. He started the 2013 season with the Rochester Red Wings of the Triple-A International League, hitting .358 with 12 home runs in 46 games before being promoted to Minnesota.

 

On May 22, 2013, the Twins promoted Colabello to the major leagues and he made his debut that day.[7] He was called up after Trevor Plouffe suffered a concussion and was placed on the 7-day disabled list. Colabello went 1-for-11 and was optioned on May 29. He was called back up on May 30 after a strained left calf forced Plouffe to the 15-day disabled list.[8] However, after having played two additional games, Colabello was sent down again when Plouffe returned.

 

Colabello had a very successful minor league season, hitting .352 with 24 home runs in 89 games, and was named the International League Most Valuable Player at the end of the year, as well as the Rookie of the Year.[9] Called up to the Twins again towards the end of July, Colabello spent the rest of the year in the big leagues, but his .194 average and 7 home runs in 55 games was far off his minor league pace.

 

After his 2013 season, Colabello garnered significant interest from several teams in the Korea Baseball Organization, including a reported $1 million contract offer from the LG Twins (with a similar $1 million buyout going to the Minnesota Twins). On December 21, Colabello announced that he would not pursue the opportunity to play overseas, saying "Going to Korea would mean giving up the dream of being a big-leaguer".[10]

 

Colabello played for the Italy National Team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.[11] He appeared in all 5 games that Italy participated in, going 6-for-18 (.333) with 2 HR and 7 RBI.

 

In 2014, Colabello made the Twins starting lineup out of the gate, rotating between outfield, first base, and designated hitter. He had a dazzling start to the season, batting .308 with 3 home runs, and 27 RBIs through his first 23 games.

 

On April 26, Colabello surpassed Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett's Twins franchise record of 26 RBIs in the month of April. It was a club record that stood for 20 years.[12]

 

His hot start soon cooled off, as Colabello hit .125 in May and was sent down to the minors by the end of the month. He was recalled by the Twins for July and early August, but did not regain his batting stroke, finishing the season at .229.

 

On December 8, 2014, Colabello was claimed off waivers by the Toronto Blue Jays.[13][14] They designated him for assignment on February 4, 2015,[15] and he was outrighted to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons on February 11.[16] Colabello batted .337 with 5 home runs and 18 RBI in April 2015, and was named the International League Player of the Month.[17] On May 5, Colabello's contract was purchased by the Blue Jays.[18][19] In his second game with the Blue Jays, Colabello recorded his first career four-hit game.[20] On May 29, Colabello played his first game against his former team, the Minnesota Twins. In the ninth inning, he hit a tiebreaking two-run home run off closer Glen Perkins to help the Blue Jays win 6–4.[21] Colabello continued his excellent batting on June 7, when he helped the Blue Jays sweep the Houston Astros by hitting a walk-off two-run single. With the hit, he also extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games.[22] He hit his first career triple on October 2.[23]

 

Colabello finished the 2015 regular season with career-highs in nearly every statistical category, including batting average (.321), hits (107), home runs (15), RBI (54), and on-base plus slugging (.886).[24] He hit a solo home run in Game 5 of the 2015 American League Championship Series, which helped the Blue Jays top the Kansas City Royals on October 21 and force a Game 6.

 

On April 22, 2016, Colabello was suspended 80 games without pay for testing positive on performance-enhancing drugs on March 13. This effectively ended his major league career, as Colabello never played another ML game after the suspension began. At the time of his suspension, he was hitting .069 (2-for-29) in 10 games.[26]

 

In response to the suspension, Colabello released the following statement:

 

On March 13, I got one of the scariest and most definitely the least expected calls of my entire life. I was informed by the Players Association that a banned substance was found in my urine. I have spent every waking moment since that day trying to find an answer as to why or how? The only thing I know is that I would never compromise the integrity of the game of baseball. I love this game too much! I care too deeply about it. I am saddened more for the impact this will have on my teammates, the organization and the fans of the Toronto Blue Jays. I hope that before anyone passes judgement on me they can take a look at the man that I am, and everything that I have done to get to where I am in my career.

 

On July 13, Colabello was assigned to the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays for a rehab assignment.[28] After rehab, he was assigned to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons for the remainder of the 2016 season. In 40 games with the Bisons, Colabello hit .180 with five home runs and 11 RBI.[6] On November 22, it was announced that Colabello would play for Italy at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.[29] On December 2, 2016, Colabello was outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo after clearing waivers.[30] He elected free agency on December 6.

 

On December 20, 2016, Colabello signed a minor league contract with the Cleveland Indians that included an invitation to spring training.[32] During spring training, Colabello played in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, appearing at first base in all 4 games in which Italy participated. He went 2-for-13 (.154), with 1 HR and 2 RBI.

 

Colabello did not make the Indians major league roster, and was assigned to Triple-A. He was released on July 8, 2017, after hitting .225 in 72 games for the Triple-A Columbus Clippers.

 

Colabello signed a minor league contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on July 18, 2017. He was assigned to the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox.[34] He hit .301 in 44 games for the Sky Sox, but was not placed on the big league roster when teams expanded to 40 players in September. He played briefly for Charros de Jalisco in the Mexican Pacific Winter League in October and early November, before electing free agency on November 6, 2017.

 

In 2018, Colabello signed with the T&A San Marino of the Italian Baseball League, appearing in a total of 9 games during the season.[35] In September, Colabello played for the Italian national baseball team in the 2018 Super 6 Baseball Tournament.

 

On May 7, 2019, Colabello signed with the Sugar Land Skeeters of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball.

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