Chris Colabello walked into the Minnesota Twins clubhouse at their spring training facility in Fort Myers, Fla., a month ago just for a glimpse.
One of the top Eastern League players in 2012, he was ticketed to begin spring training with the major league club and decided to arrive early and check out where his locker might be.
“I couldn’t find it,” said Colabello, the former Nashua Pride first baseman who played a huge role in the team’s 2007 Can-Am League championship. “Then I found it was right next to (Justin) Morneau and three away from (Joe) Mauer. And they’ve been awesome. Every guy I’ve gone to for advice has treated me like one of the guys.”
That’s because Colabello had been playing like a major leaguer before leaving briefly to play for the Italian National Team in the World Baseball Classic, where he’s been bashing the ball.
But the amazing detail of Colabello’s ride is that he is 29 years old, and this is a ride that usually is reserved for players who are in their early 20s.
“It’s been persistence, I guess,” he said when asked what kept him following his dream.![]()
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