Blue Jays ALCS Game 6 X-factors

Oct 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Chris Colabello (15) hits a home run during the second inning against the Kansas City Royals in game five of the ALCS at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Colabello

Colabello has been one of the most underrated players on the roster this season.  He was claimed off of waivers from the Minnesota Twins and started the season with the Buffalo Bisons.  After batting .337 in 23 games with the Bisons he was brought up to the Jays were he continued to rake.  Colabello was expected to be just filler for the Jays but as he continued to produce it was hard to leave his bat on the bench.

Colabello found himself in 101 games for the Jays and played the majority as an extra outfielder.  He had played most of his career at first base, but with the Blue Jays struggling to find an everyday left fielder prior to the Ben Revere trade, he found a home there.  Colabello would go on to sport a solid .321 batting average and collected 15 home runs and 54 RBIs in his various roles for the Jays in the season.

Flipping the page to the postseason, Colabello has continued to show how good of a hitter he truly is.  So far in the playoffs he is batting .286 with 2 home runs, 3 RBI, and 3 doubles through 9 games.  Colabello has been getting pulled from the games in the late innings due to Justin Smoak having better defensive skills at first base, but Colabello has been playing well on both sides of the ball. He’s also providing a solid bat behind the A-list mashers.  With Revere, Donaldson, Bautista, and Encarnacion at the top, Colabello’s contact bat has been valuable and provides further stress for opposing pitchers.  With Colabello being a sneaky threat in the 5-spot it makes pitchers think twice about walking Edwin.

His ability to hit to all fields keeps teams from placing extreme shifts on him and Colabello has shown the ability to hit with runners on.  The righty is batting a gaudy .329 with runners in scoring position this season.  That includes 5 doubles, 5 home runs, and 40 RBIs in 82 at bats in the situation.

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