Chris Colabello clears waivers, outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo by Blue Jays

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It appears that first baseman/outfielder Chris Colabello will still get a chance with the Toronto Blue Jays. One week after the team designated him for assignment, the Blue Jays have announced that Colabello has cleared waivers and he has been outrighted to Triple-A Buffalo.

The team announced the move on Wednesday via Twitter.

Colabello was originally claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays on December 8, 2014. However, before he could get to his first camp with Toronto, the 31-year-old was designated for assignment on February 5th, a move that made room on the 40-man roster for left-hander Jayson Aquino.

It’s been a road less traveled for Chris Colabello on the way to realizing his dreams to play Major League Baseball. Undrafted out of Assumption College in Massachusetts, Colabello spent 7 seasons in the independent Canadian-American Association before finally getting a shot with the Twins in 2012.

The big right-handed hitter has mashed, both at the Double and Triple-A level. In 284 career minor league games, Colabello owns an impressive .303/.376/.508 slash-line with 75 doubles, 53 home runs, and 212 RBI while splitting time between the New Britain Rock Cats and Rochester Red Wings.

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Unfortunately, that production hasn’t been shown at the Major League level though. He owns a career mark of .214/.284/.364 as a member of the Twins. Colabello opened eyes with a .295/.343/.484 April that saw the right-handed batter drive in 27 runs during the season’s opening month, setting a franchise record in the process. However, he faltered from that point forward, as a wrist injury led to a .173/.229/.291 slash-line, 3 home runs, and 12 RBI from May 1st on

If he accepts the outright assignment to Buffalo, Colabello will receive an invitation to Spring Training with the Major League club in Dunedin. That’ll give him yet another chance to overcome the odds and find his way back to the Major Leagues, this time with the Blue Jays. However, he has some hefty odds placed before him, with a very busy first base situation going on with Danny Valencia, Justin Smoak, and Edwin Encarnacion in the mix. Additionally, Dioner Navarro and Encarnacion are expected to see the most at-bats at DH and Kevin Pillar is the anticipated 4th outfielder

That likely means that Colabello begins the year in Buffalo, regardless of his spring performance. There he can add to his International League calling card and await his return to the show.

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