This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Christian Colon has batted only once in postseason play for the Kansas City Royals. As he showed in one year in Taylorsville, he needs little time to make a lasting impression.
A reserve infielder, Colon scored the winning run in the Royals' 9-8, 12-inning victory over Oakland in the American League wild-card game, launching their run to the World Series in his rookie season. That's the kind of impact he made as a Taylorsville High sophomore in 2005, when he arrived from Texas and became the starting shortstop for the Warriors' proud, well-established program.
He was known then as Christian Rodriguez, before taking his stepfather's name. The family moved to California for Colon's last two years of high school, then he played for Cal State Fullerton and was drafted by the Royals in the first round in 2010.
Only two former Utah high school baseball players have won the World Series: West's Fred Sanford with the New York Yankees in 1949 and '50 and Cyprus' Scott Eyre with Philadelphia in 2008.
Colon's championship opportunity is fun for his ex-coaches and teammates, including some who have remained friends with him.
"You like to think that you helped him along the way," said former Taylorsville coach Guy Mackay. "You always appreciate the chance to work with somebody like that."
Blake Valdez, who played first base for the Warriors, has spoke to Colon regularly during the postseason, "living the moment with him," he said. "We all knew he had great talent, but he was a very humble guy — and still is. He hasn't changed."
Salt Lake Tribune stories from that season mention Colon's home run that landed on 5400 South in Taylorsville and his homer that provided Taylorsville's only run in a loss to Cottonwood in the winners' bracket final of the Class 5A state tournament (the Warriors were eliminated in their next game). But those who watched him every day mostly remember his defensive skills.
"More than anything, the plays that he made at shortstop, like a double play, diving and flipping the ball over his shoulder," said Kellen Carsey, an assistant coach.
Mackay recalled how Colon thrived against good competition when the Warriors played in the National Classic in California. "When all the other kids struggled, he was at his best," Mackay said.
Colon, 25, advanced quickly through the Royals' system. He played the full 2013 season for Omaha of the Pacific Coast League and another 85 games for the Storm Chasers this year before being promoted to Kansas City. He appeared in 21 regular-season games for the Royals, going 15-of-45 at the plate.
In the 12th inning of the wild card game, Colon's high chopper resulted in a single. He stole second and scored the winning run on Salvador Perez's single. Colon's only other postseason appearance came as a defensive replacement at second base in a Game 2 win over Baltimore in the American League Championship Series.
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