A Look Back at the Royals Top 31 Prospects: #11 Christian Colon

Every season, the Kansas City Royals have a top ten selection in the Major League Baseball Draft. 2010 was no different, as they had the fourth overall pick. That fourth overall pick was ranked by Baseball America as the Royals 11th best prospect heading into the 2012 season.

Were you surprised by who they selected? Well most were and some hadn’t even heard of him.

Shortstop Christian Colon was the Royals selection out of Cal State Fullerton. He had a good bat in college and with Team USA and was a leader of both of those teams. However, he was not considered a first round selection (or at least that high). The Royals selected him because they did not have a shortstop prospect in their system, but mainly because he would sign quickly and for slot money.

Colon did sign quickly and began his professional career in High-A Wilmington that summer, where he more than held his own (.278 average in 60 games).

Then the Royals traded for Alcides Escobar and Colon stalled in Double-A in 2011. Colon played second base for the first time in the Arizona Fall League in 2011 and proved he could be a plus defender at that position.

He returned to NW Arkansas in 2012 and hit .289 over 73 games. He scored 33 runs and drove in 27, mainly batting 1-2 in the order. He also walked (31) more than he struck out (27). Those numbers earned him a spot on the Texas League All-Star team. They also earned him a promotion to Triple-A.

With Omaha, Colon went 7-for-17 (.415) in five games before fouling a bunt off his face, which ended his season. He began play in the Puerto Rican Winter League yesterday (0-for-5) to make up some at-bats.

Colon has some speed, as he has stolen 32 bases over his career. However, he has been caught stealing 18 times.

In 2012, Colon played more games at shortstop (58) than second base (18). He made 17 errors at short in Double-A in 231 chances and did not make an error in Triple-A (in 17 chances). He did not make any errors at second base at either level (in 88 chances).

MLB.com has Colon keeping with the 11 ranking. Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star has Colon coming in at number 14. With Johnny Giavotella’s struggles with the bat at the big league level, the door is WIDE open for Colon to steal the second base job in 2013. If not, he will be back in Omaha switching between shortstop and second base, waiting for his opportunity.