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KC Royals: Designating Christian Colon for assignment was right decision

By Leigh Oleszczak

KC Royals second baseman Christian Colon (24) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
KC Royals second baseman Christian Colon (24) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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The KC Royals made a tough decision on Wednesday afternoon when they announced they had designated infielder Christian Colon for assignment. The former first round draft pick hadn’t been anything but a utility guy for the Royals.

When it comes to the biggest moments in Kansas City Royals history, Christian Colon‘s name will come up on two different occasions. He had the game winning run in the beloved Wild Card Game back in 2014 (seems so long ago, doesn’t it?) and also hit in the go-ahead run in Game 5 of the World Series in 2015.

Colon has been clutch when asked to be in those big moments. Unfortunately for him, however, he hasn’t shone during the regular season when the Royals needed him to. Not only that, but the organization was always passing on him for other guys.

Despite the Royals never having a solid second baseman and having a decent defensive option in Christian Colon, they always went with someone else. First it was Omar Infante, who despite being terrible offensively, was the choice to man second. Later on that season, Ben Zobrist was acquired and mainly spent time at second base.

The next season, the Royals went with Whit Merrifield and even gave Raul Mondesi Jr. some time at second, despite him being a shortstop. They even have let Cheslor Cuthbert spend time as a second baseman simply because his bat is more effective. Colon was never going to be anything more than a utility guy and that couldn’t have been on display more during this current season.

Since joining the big league ranks in 2014, Colon has a career slash line of .263/.323/.329 in 125 games and 316 at-bats. He’s never going to be a year long starter for a team and the Royals showed they realized that with constantly giving him the shaft.

Sometimes baseball fans get confused with some of the terminology in the sport and I can definitely be included in that category. Max Rieper of Royals Review summed up what being designated for assignment means,

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"Having been designated for assignment, both Colón and O’Brien must be either traded or placed on waivers within ten days. If the player clears waivers without being claimed by any other team, he may be assigned to the minor leagues."

Obviously the Royals are hoping that they can sneak Christian Colon onto waivers and not have another team pick him up. If he does clear waivers, the Royals can place him in the minors and all will be well again.

In other words, this isn’t necessarily a parting of ways for Colon and the KC Royals, but it very well could be. It’s not crazy to imagine another team picking up the former first round pick, but at the same time, he’s only batting .176 this season in 17 at bats, so he’s not the greatest at the plate.

While Royals fans will always admire Colon for his heroics during the 2014 and 2015 postseasons, he’s been a bust by “first round pick” terms. It was a little shocking that the Royals selected him that high at the time, as it was pretty highly known that he’d never be anything more than a utility player for whatever team he landed with.

That being said, Christian Colon provided value with this team and had two huge moments while donning a Royals uniform. If the team can’t retain him, it’ll be sad, but at the end of the day, Major League Baseball is a business. If Colon isn’t pulling his share, then it’s time to move on.

What do you think, Royals fans? Do you think DFA’ing Christian Colon was the right move for the Kansas City Royals?

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