FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 1, 2013
Courtesy of Assumption Athletics Communications
Former Assumption College baseball player Chris Colabello '05, a four-year standout for the Hounds and a member of the program's 200-hit club, considers himself a baseball purist and has been playing professionally since his graduation in 2005. After a successful seven-year career in independent league baseball, Colabello is a journeyman on the verge of making his dream come true of becoming a Major League Baseball player.
"I was never really a big Red Sox fan, I am really just a baseball purist," said Colabello. "I was actually a Seattle Mariners fan and liked Ken Griffey, Jr. growing up. I'm more of a baseball purist and I just truly love the game and all it has done for me."
Colabello is tied for seventh on the Assumption College all-time hits list with 202 career hits, including a three-home run game on May 5, 2002 vs. the College of Saint Rose. He is one of five Assumption players to post a game with three home runs.
This marks Colabello's first major league training camp. He was signed in 2006 by the Detroit Tigers prior to spring training, but was released before camp was done. He was playing in the Mexican Winter League when he received the call from Minnesota general manager Terry Ryan for his first big-league camp invite.
"It was pretty exciting, knowing where I came from and the road I took to get here," Colabello said about the call from Ryan. "I was in Mexico playing winter ball and I was having a good winter and I thought it was going to be a real possibility."
Upon his arrival at spring training, Colabello didn't totally know what to expect, but he was excited for the opportunity and ready to make the most of it.
"It was funny, when I walked in I assumed there would be a reason for the order of lockers," said Colabello. "I looked in the corners first, with the name plates of the MLB guys up. There were stickers up for the invited guys and I eventually found my locker."
He indeed found his locker, which was located next to starting Twins first baseman Justin Morneau. Morneau is a four-time All-Star and was the 2006 American League MVP as he batted .321 that season with 34 home runs and 130 runs batted in.
"He has been great to me all camp," said Colabello. "He took me under his wing a little bit."
Colabello had a chance to contribute right away with the Twins and show that he has what it takes.
"They wanted to get me prepared for the Classic and the big league staff had never really seen me play," said Colabello. "I started four of the first six games and it was good to get those at-bats right away."
Selected to represent Italy in the World Baseball Classic, Colabello did sit down the Twins and weigh his options before ultimately deciding to play.
"I was questioning whether it was a good idea to go to the Classic," said Colabello. I talked to the front office about the positives and the negatives and also sat with our manager, Ron Gardenhire. We talked about the WBC and he 100 percent gave me the green light."
"In baseball, we get such a short window of time to do neat things and experience some really cool things in life," said Colabello. "The Twins were great, they supported me and wished me the best of luck. In the end, it turned out to be the single greatest experience I have had playing baseball so far."
Chris became the second member of the family to represent Italy on the international stage as his father, Lou, a University of Massachusetts alum, represented Italy as a pitcher in the 1984 Summer Olympics. Being selected to the Italian team was an honor that clearly means a lot to Chris.
"It was obviously a really significant thing for me," said Colabello. "My dad represented Italy for a bunch of years and being able to also do that was really special. To wear the same uniform he wore, play the same teams he played and to do it on that stage was special. The WBC has grown into such a significant tournament and it was great to have the success that we had."
The Italian team advanced to the second round of the tournament, advancing out of Pool D with a 2-1 record while playing at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks. In Pool play, the Italians defeated Mexico by a 6-5 final in their first game, followed by a 14-4 rout of Team Canada in their second contest. In that game, Colabello's bat was responsible for four hits, including a three-run homer, as the Italians clinched a spot in the second round. When asked about being named as the Player of the Game, he gave a very simple view on how he approaches every game.
"Being named Player of the Game was obviously not the first thing
on my mind," said Colabello. "My main objective is to go out and
help my team win a game with my bat, my glove, whatever. That's my
number one goal. Over the years, that allows you to maximize your
ability."
"I ended up with four hits and a homer and got pied in the face by my teammates after the game. It was all kind of surreal and I just tried to soak up the moment. To win that way over a team that not many gave us a chance against was the most special thing about that day."
Being in his first big league camp has been an overall great experience and one that has taught Colabello a number of lessons.
"Any time you are in that environment with major league guys, you learn something," said Colabello. "It's great to see how they handle themselves each day. In end though, the game is the same. Sixty-feet, six-inches from the mound to the plate and 90 feet between bases. It's all about learning to deal with failure and getting knocked down, but then also getting back up after you get knocked down."
After a successful spring training and World Baseball Classic, Colabello is expecting to start the season in Triple A, where he will be the first baseman for the Rochester Red Wings in Rochester, New York. The Red Wings open the 2013 season in Buffalo on Thursday, April 4th.
"I met with the Triple A media guys and the radio guys," said Colabello. "I am looking forward to it. I will continue to go out every day and work as hard as I can and do the best that I can every day."
When asked to look back on his time at Assumption and his top memory, a couple of things came to Colabello's mind.
"During my sophomore year, we had a great group of guys and I remember that we played Duquesne in the opening game of the year and beat them 1-0. I think that my three-home run game my freshman year was probably my other top memory of playing at Assumption."
"Assumption was overall just a great experience for me and put me in a position to succeed if baseball didn't work out."
Colabello will have plenty of support from 500 Salisbury Street and throughout the country though as he continues to work on making his dream of becoming a Major League Baseball player into a reality. His next step in the journey starts in Triple A and Assumption supporters everywhere will be watching and cheering him on.
