| Román Colón | |
|---|---|
 Colón with the Kansas City Royals | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1979-08-13)August 13, 1979 (age 46) Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Professional debut | |
| MLB: August 21, 2004, for the Atlanta Braves | |
| KBO: 2010, for the Kia Tigers | |
| CPBL: March 30, 2014, for the Chinatrust Brothers | |
| Last appearance | |
| MLB: June 22, 2012, for the Kansas City Royals | |
| KBO: 2010, for the Kia Tigers | |
| CPBL: June 4, 2014, for the Chinatrust Brothers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 8–10 |
| Earned run average | 5.19 |
| Strikeouts | 120 |
| KBO statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 8–7 |
| Earned run average | 3.91 |
| Strikeouts | 57 |
| CPBL statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 2–4 |
| Earned run average | 2.52 |
| Strikeouts | 14 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
Román Benedicto Colón (born August 13, 1979) is aDominican former professionalbaseballpitcher. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theAtlanta Braves,Detroit Tigers, andKansas City Royals. He also played in theKBO League for theKia Tigers and in theChinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) for theChinatrust Brothers. He is 6 feet 6 inches (198 cm) tall and weighs 245 pounds (111 kg), and bats and throwsright-handed.
Colón was signed as an amateur free agent by theAtlanta Braves in 1995 and began his professional career with theDominican Summer League Braves in1996. In1997, he ranked first in theGulf Coast League inruns allowed (47) andearned runs (30), 5th in innings pitched (63), 4th inhits allowed (68), 2nd in gamesstarted (12). In1998, he ranked 3rd in theAppalachian League in runs (59) and games started (13), 4th in earned runs (47) and first in hits allowed (92) andlosses (7).
In1999, Colón was named by the organization as theJamestown Jammers's Pitcher of the Year. He led the team inwins andstrikeouts and tied for the team lead in innings pitched. Colón missed all of2000 with an injury. Healthy again in2001, he was promoted to theMacon Braves on May 3 from extendedspring training. He had the 9th bestwalks per 9 innings ratio in Macon history (1.83) and struck out a season high 7 batters three times. He struck out 6 in 6 innings on May 18 against theAsheville Tourists for his first win of the season.
Colón put together a solid season in2002, going 9–8 with a 3.59ERA. In the two seasons after his arm trouble, he walked just 64 batters in 291 innings with 185 strikeouts. Colón pitched acomplete game on June 2 versus theFrederick Keys (9 IP, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 6 K). He also struck out a season-high eight batters on May 6 against theWinston-Salem Warthogs (7+1⁄3 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K).
In2003, Colón was namedGreenville Braves Pitcher of the Month in April (2-0, 2.86 ERA in 4 G). He finished 1st on the club and 3rd in the Double–ASouthern League in wins, going 11–3. Colón earned a win in his first Double–A start in a 3–1 victory against theChattanooga Lookouts on April 9 (5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 4 K). He won his first 3 decisions before losing back to back starts on May 12 and May 17, giving up 8 runs on 16 hits over 12 innings. He went 6–3 (3.66) in 12 starts (71+1⁄3 IP, 68 H, 22 BB, 38 K) and was 5–0 (2.78) with 2saves in 27relief appearances (35+2⁄3 IP, 36 H, 11 BB, 20 K). However, Colón closed the season by winning his final 7 decisions (did not lose after May 29) and did not allow a run over his final 13 appearances of the season from August 1 through September 1. He earned his first professional save by firing a perfect inning in a 5–3 win at Jacksonville on July 23.
Colón pitched at three different levels in2004 and ended the year with Atlanta. With the Triple–ARichmond Braves, he went 4–1 with a 3.65 ERA in 51 appearances and was Richmond Pitcher of the Month for July, going 2–0 with a 1.33 ERA (12G,20+1⁄3 IP, 3 ER, BB, 17 K). Colón walked just two batters after July 1 with Richmond (19 G,31+1⁄3 IP) and did not allow a run over his last six appearances, from August 4 to August 17 (10+2⁄3 IP, 2 H, BB, 11 K). He was recalled by Atlanta on August 18 and made his major league debut August 21 against theLos Angeles Dodgers, pitching the eighth inning. Colón did not allow a hit and fanned two. He earned first career win on August 30 versus theSan Francisco Giants with a scoreless ninth inning. Colón suffered his first MLB loss on September 9 against thePhiladelphia Phillies. Colón had filled in admirably in an injury depleted Braves rotation in 2005, holding theChicago Cubs to one run in seven innings on July 5.
TheDetroit Tigers acquired Colón from the Braves (along withZach Miner) in exchange forKyle Farnsworth at the July 31,2005,trade deadline.[1] He spent most of his Tigers tenure in thebullpen before making two spot starts in September, and was shelved after that with stiffness in his throwing elbow. In2006, he appeared in 20 games for the Tigers.
Colón started the2007 season on thedisabled list. During a rehab assignment with the Triple–AToledo Mud Hens, he was involved in an altercation with fellow pitcherJordan Tata. During the course of the fight, Colón attempted to punch Tata and instead landed a punch to the face ofJason Karnuth, the Mud Henscloser who was trying to intercede and break up the fight. The resulting injury caused Karnuth to be admitted to the hospital and undergo plastic surgery to his face. According to his wife, who filed an assault report against Colón on her husband's behalf, Karnuth required a titanium plate to be screwed into his head. Karnuth missed most of the 2007 season as a result of the injuries. The Tigers suspended Colón for 7 days after the incident. On January 15, 2008, Colón pleadedno contest to an assault charge and was sentenced to 200 hours ofcommunity service.[2]
Colón was traded to theKansas City Royals on July 13,2007, for aplayer to be named later (minor league pitcher Daniel Christensen). He was outrighted to the minor leagues after the season and was invited to spring training in2008.[3] He became a free agent after the 2008 season, but was re-signed by the Royals and invited to their 2009 spring training. He pitched in 48 Major League games with the Royals in 2009 and 2010, finishing 2–3 with a 4.83 ERA.
Colón signed withKia Tigers of theKBO League on May 5, 2010. He made 21 starts for the Tigers, compiling a 8–7 record and 3.91 ERA with 57 strikeouts across103+2⁄3 innings pitched.
On January 12, 2011, Colón signed a minor league contract with theLos Angeles Dodgers, which included an invitation to spring training. He was assigned to the Triple–AAlbuquerque Isotopes. He appeared in 26 games, posting a 2–1 record and 4.85 ERA with 17 strikeouts for the Isotopes.
Colón signed a minor league contract with theKansas City Royals on January 25, 2012, and received an invitation to spring training. He was selected to the Royals' active roster on June 14. In 3 games for Kansas City, he compiled a 6.75 ERA with 3 strikeouts over 8 innings pitched. Colón wasdesignated for assignment following the promotion ofFrancisley Bueno on June 23.[4] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to the Triple–AOmaha Storm Chasers on June 25.[5] On October 6, Colón elected free agency.[6]
On February 16, 2013, Colón signed a minor league contract with thePittsburgh Pirates organization.[7] He made one appearance for the Triple–AIndianapolis Indians, allowing one run in1⁄3 of an inning.
On April 24, 2013, Colón was traded to theAtlanta Braves in exchange for cash considerations.[8] In 6 appearances for the Triple–AGwinnett Braves, Colón struggled to a 6.23 ERA with 8 strikeouts over 13 innings of work.
On May 18, 2013, Colón was traded to theColorado Rockies in exchange for cash considerations.[9] He made 2 starts for the Triple–AColorado Springs Sky Sox, allowing 7 unearned runs in5+2⁄3 innings pitched. Colón elected free agency following the season on November 4.
In 2014, Colón played for theChinatrust Brothers of theChinese Professional Baseball League. In 15 games (2 starts) for the Brothers, Colón compiled a 2–4 record and 2.52 ERA with 14 strikeouts and 3 saves across 25 innings pitched.[10]
On December 22, 2014, Colón signed a minor league contract with theKansas City Royals.[11] After not appearing for the organization in 2015, he re–signed with the Royals on a new minor league contract on November 26, 2015.[12] Colón did not appear for the Royals organization in 2016, and once more re–signed with Kansas City on November 13, 2016.[13]
He resides in the Dominican Republic.
· Baseball Almanac
