Colabello looking to rejuvenate career in Italy

Former Toronto Blue Jay Chris Colabello will play in Italy this season.

By Devon Teeple

The GM's Perspective

Chris Colabello used to be the Independent golden boy who finally saw all of his potential fulfilled in 2015 when he hit .321 for the Toronto Blue Jays.

At the beginning of the 2016 season, he was suspended for, knowingly or unknowingly, taking dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (DHCMT), an anabolic steroid. He claims he has no idea how he tested positive, but it really makes no difference anymore. You're branded a cheater and that’s that. His career was never the same.

After signing with the Cleveland Indians in December of 2016, he split the year between the Indians' triple-A club and the Milwaukee Brewers' triple-A squad. He hit .254 with 12 home runs and 62 RBI and was granted free agency this past November.

Come 2018 and we are two months in to the season. Unfortunately, Colabello still hasn’t signed with a pro team in North America and at 34, his options may be running out at this point.

Now to say I’m bias is pretty obvious. To see an Indy ball alumni crush it at the big league level is something we all dreamed of. Colabello did it, and though it took him seven years to finally sign that minor league deal, it’s without question, he’s got the heart and desire to push through anything.

Did he make a mistake? Potentially, but he’s hit at every single level. You can’t fake that.

The Can-Am League reported the still unsigned first baseman/outfielder will be suiting up for San Marino in Italy. He reports in May. Despite the season being only 35 games in length, this could be his last shot to get noticed by scouts.