{{short description|Puerto Rican baseball player (born 1989)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2017}} {{Infobox baseball biography | name = Christian Colón | image = Christian Colón on June 5, 2014.jpg | image_size = 240px | caption = Colón with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2014 | team = Kansas City Monarchs | number = | position = Infielder / Coach | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|5|14}} | birth_place = Cayey, Puerto Rico | bats = Right | throws = Right | debutleague = MLB | debutdate = July 1 | debutyear = 2014 | debutteam = Kansas City Royals | finalleague = MLB | finaldate = August 12 | finalyear = 2020 | finalteam = Cincinnati Reds | statleague = MLB | stat1label = Batting average | stat1value = .249 | stat2label = Home runs | stat2value = 1 | stat3label = Runs batted in | stat3value = 28 | teams = * Kansas City Royals ({{mlby|2014}}–{{mlby|2017}}) * Miami Marlins ({{mlby|2017}}) * Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2020}}) | awards = * World Series champion (2015) | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's baseball}} {{MedalCountry | {{bb|USA}}}} {{MedalCompetition | World Junior Baseball Championship}} {{MedalSilver| {{by|2006}} Sancti Spíritus | Team}} }}
'''Christian Anthony Colón''' (born May 14, 1989) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball infielder who currently serves as the hitting coordinator and third base coach for the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Miami Marlins, and Cincinnati Reds.
==Playing career== Colón attended Midway High School in Waco, Texas, as a freshman,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wacotrib.com/sports/pro-baseball-notebook-midway-ex-colon-impresses-in-mlb-debut/article_9fbccd28-db31-5193-bc89-cd3f6f2a091e.html |title=Pro baseball notebook: Midway ex Colon impresses in MLB debut | Sports |website=Wacotrib.com |date=July 6, 2014 |access-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Fitt |first=Aaron |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/summer-scene/summer-stock/2009/268752.html |title=College: Summer Scene: Summer Stock: Brain And Brawn |website=BaseballAmerica.com |date=August 24, 2009 |access-date=May 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221161715/https://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/summer-scene/summer-stock/2009/268752.html |archive-date=February 21, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Taylorsville High School in Taylorsville, Utah, for his sophomore season, before his family moved to California.<ref>{{cite web|last=Williams |first=Carter |url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865634716/Utahns-in-baseball-Christian-Colon-relishes-return-to-Utah-Kintzler-optioned-to-Triple-A.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817124708/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865634716/Utahns-in-baseball-Christian-Colon-relishes-return-to-Utah-Kintzler-optioned-to-Triple-A.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 17, 2015 |title=Utahns in baseball: Christian Colon relishes return to Utah; Kintzler optioned to Triple-A |publisher=Deseret News |date=August 16, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> He then attended Canyon High School in Anaheim, California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ocregister.com/2007/06/02/colon-enjoys-experience/|title=Colon enjoys experience|work=Orange County Register|date=June 2, 2007|access-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> Colón was drafted in the tenth round of the 2007 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres.<ref>{{cite web|author=Denis Savage |url=http://www.scout.com/mlb/padres/story/650234-padres-draft-interview-christian-colon |title=Padres Draft Interview: Christian Colon - San Diego |website=Scout.com |access-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> He chose instead to attend California State University, Fullerton, where he played college baseball for the Cal State Fullerton Titans baseball team.
===Kansas City Royals=== With the Titans, Colón was an All-American shortstop. He was then selected with the fourth overall pick of the 2010 MLB draft by the Kansas City Royals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100607&content_id=10915598&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|title=Royals opt for shortstop Colon with top pick|work=MLB.com|access-date=November 2, 2015}}</ref> Colón was added to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2013, in order to be protected from the Rule 5 draft.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/kc/kansas-city-royals-add-four-to-40-man-roster-drop-three?ymd=20131120&content_id=64080818&vkey=news_kc |title=Royals add four to 40-man roster, drop three |work=MLB.com |date=November 20, 2013 |access-date=December 14, 2013}}</ref>
Colón batted .296 for the Omaha Storm Chasers of the Triple–A Pacific Coast League in 2014, before he was promoted to the major leagues on June 30.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article648069.html|title=Royals bring back Raul Ibanez and call up Christian Colon|work=Kansas City Star|access-date=November 2, 2015}}</ref> He made 21 appearances for the Royals during his rookie campaign, batting .333/.375/.489 with six RBI and two stolen bases.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Christian Colon 2014 batting Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/31116/year/2014/category/batting|access-date=September 23, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref> After entering the 2014 American League Wild Card Game as a pinch hitter, Colón knocked in the tying run on an infield single and scored the winning run on a single by Salvador Pérez.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/10/01/352882243/kansas-city-wins-exciting-wild-card-game-over-athletics |title=Baseball's AL Wild-Card Game Was Indeed Wild : The Two-Way |website=Npr.org|date=October 1, 2014 |access-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref>
Colón served as a utility player during the 2015 season, ultimately making 43 appearances for the team, in which he hit .290/.356/.336 with six RBI and three stolen bases.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Christian Colon 2015 batting Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/31116/year/2015/category/batting|access-date=September 23, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref> He entered Game 5 of the 2015 World Series (his first appearance in the playoffs) in the top of the 12th as a pinch hitter. After not making a plate appearance for four weeks, Colón hit a single to score Jarrod Dyson for the winning run to clinch the World Series, marking the first time in history that a player in his first at-bat in a World Series delivered the Series-winning run.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Oz |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mlb-big-league-stew/in-his-only-at-bat-of-the-postseason--christian-colon-delivers-the-royals--biggest-hit-090314927.html |title=In his only at-bat of the postseason, Christian Colon delivers the Royals' biggest hit |website=Sports.yahoo.com |date=November 2, 2015 |access-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref>
Colón made 54 appearances for Kansas City during the 2016 season, slashing .231/.294/.293 with one home run and 13 RBI.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Christian Colon 2016 batting Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/31116/year/2016/category/batting|access-date=September 23, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref> In 2017, Raúl A. Mondesí won the Royals' starting second baseman position, and Colón competed with Whit Merrifield for a role on the Opening Day roster. The Royals included Colón on the Opening Day roster,<ref>{{cite web|last=Dodd|first=Rustin |url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article142582949.html |title=Caught in roster crunch, Royals' Christian Colon prepared family for 'anything' | The Kansas City Star |website=Kansascity.com |date=April 4, 2017 |access-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> but designated him for assignment on May 10.<ref>{{cite web|last=Grathoff|first=Pete |url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article149769194.html |title=Royals fans say goodbye to Christian Colon | The Kansas City Star |website=Kansascity.com |date=May 10, 2017 |access-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> In seven games for the team, Colón had gone 3-for-17 (.176) with one walk.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Christian Colon 2017 batting Stats Per Game|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/gamelog/_/id/31116/year/2017/category/batting|access-date=September 23, 2025|website=espn.com|language=en}}</ref>
===Miami Marlins=== On May 16, 2017, the Miami Marlins claimed Colón off of waivers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dodd|first=Rustin |url=http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article150814057.html |title=Miami Marlins claim former Royals IF Christian Colon off waivers | The Kansas City Star |website=Kansascity.com |access-date=May 17, 2017}}</ref> He was designated for assignment by the team on June 23.<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Steve|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2017/06/marlins-designate-christian-colon-for-assignment.html|title=Marlins Designate Christian Colon For Assignment|website=Mlbtraderumors.com|date=June 23, 2017|access-date=June 23, 2017}}</ref> Colón spent the remainder of the season with the Triple–A New Orleans Baby Cakes, playing in 49 games and batting .302/.379/.376 with one home run, 13 RBI, and six stolen bases. He elected free agency following the season on November 6.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2017|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2017/?amphtml|access-date=April 28, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 7, 2017 |language=en}}</ref>
===Atlanta Braves=== On December 6, 2017, Colón signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves. He was released on May 9, 2018.
===New York Mets=== On May 18, 2018, Colón signed a minor league contract with the New York Mets. In 82 games for the Triple–A Las Vegas 51s, he hit .304/.396/.459 with 6 home runs, 38 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. Colón elected free agency following the season on November 2.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Minor League Free Agents 2018|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2018/|access-date=May 1, 2024|website=baseballamerica.com|date=November 6, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>
===Cincinnati Reds=== On December 4, 2018, Colón signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. On September 16, 2019, the Reds selected Colón's contract, adding him to their active roster. In eight games, he went 3–for–6 (.500) with one RBI. Colón was removed from the 40–man roster and sent outright to the Triple–A Louisville Bats on November 4, after which he subsequently elected free agency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2019/|title=Minor League Free Agents 2019|author=Matt Eddy|website=Baseball America|date=November 7, 2019|access-date=November 8, 2019}}</ref>
On November 18, 2019, Colón re-signed with the Reds organization on a new minor league contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-transactions-nov-3-dec-17-2019/|title=Minor League Transactions: Nov 3 - Dec 17|work=Baseball America|first=Chris|last=Hilburn-Trenkle|date=January 3, 2019|access-date=January 3, 2019}}</ref> On July 24, 2020, Colón had his contract selected to the 40–man roster. On August 14, Colón was designated for assignment. On August 17, Colón cleared waivers and was outrighted to the Reds alternate training site.
===Kansas City Monarchs=== On February 10, 2021, Colón signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.americanassociationbaseball.com/transactions/2021-transactions/ |title=2021 Transactions |access-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-date=February 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228161327/https://www.americanassociationbaseball.com/transactions/2021-transactions/ |url-status=usurped }}</ref>
===Toronto Blue Jays=== On April 24, 2021, Colón signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays organization.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/blue-jays-sign-colon-herrera-to-minor-league-deals/n-5683944| title = Blue Jays Sign Colon, Herrera to Minor League Deals |website=Oursportscentral.com| date = April 24, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/04/blue-jays-sign-christian-colon.html|title=Blue Jays Sign Christian Colon|website=Mlbtraderumors.com|date=April 27, 2021 |access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref>
On December 5, 2021, Colón announced his retirement from professional baseball.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McDonald |first=Darragh |date=December 5, 2021 |title=Christian Colon Retires |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/12/christian-colon-retires.html |access-date=2025-11-26 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Coaching career== ===Kansas City Royals=== On January 4, 2022, Colón was hired to serve as the assistant hitting coach for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the Double-A affiliate of his former team, the Kansas City Royals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/christian-colon-joins-royals-as-double-a-coach|title=Colón 'can't wait' for coaching role with KC|website=MLB.com|access-date=April 7, 2022}}</ref>
===Seattle Mariners=== On January 23, 2024, Colón was hired by the Seattle Mariners to serve as the manager for their Double–A affiliate, the Arkansas Travelers.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Travelers 2024 Field Staff Announced|url=https://www.milb.com/arkansas/news/travelers-2024-field-staff-announced|access-date=February 25, 2024|website=Minor League Baseball|language=en}}</ref> Mike Fransoso replaced him as Arkansas manager in August 2024. Colon resigned to spend time with family.
===Kansas City Monarchs=== On February 4, 2025, Colón was hired as the hitting coordinator and third base coach for the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Christian Colón Named Monarchs Hitting Coordinator|url=https://monarchsbaseball.com/christian-colon/|access-date=July 26, 2025|website=monarchsbaseball.com|date=February 4, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Colón and his wife, Kayla, have 3 daughters.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/royals-christian-colon-announces-gender-of-baby-by-smashing-a-baseball-051616 |title = Royals infielder discovers gender of baby by smashing a baseball|website=Foxsports.com|date = May 16, 2016}}</ref>
==See also== * List of Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{baseballstats|mlb=518568|espn=31116|br=c/colonch01|fangraphs=11145|brm=colon-001chr}} *[http://www.fullertontitans.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/colon_christian00.html Cal State Fullerton Titans bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402154603/http://www.fullertontitans.com/sports/m-basebl/mtt/colon_christian00.html |date=April 2, 2015 }} *{{Twitter}}
{{2010 MLB Draft}} {{Kansas City Royals first-round draft picks}} {{2015 Kansas City Royals}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Colon, Christian}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Kansas City Royals players Category:Miami Marlins players Category:Cincinnati Reds players Category:Cal State Fullerton Titans baseball players Category:Wilmington Blue Rocks players Category:Northwest Arkansas Naturals players Category:Arizona League Royals players Category:Omaha Storm Chasers players Category:Surprise Saguaros players Category:Leones de Ponce baseball players Category:Sportspeople from Cayey, Puerto Rico Category:Major League Baseball shortstops Category:Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico Category:21st-century Puerto Rican sportsmen Category:New Orleans Baby Cakes players Category:Criollos de Caguas players Category:Gwinnett Stripers players Category:Las Vegas 51s players Category:Louisville Bats players Category:Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente infielders Category:Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players