Chris Colabello is inching closer to the end of his 80-game suspension, but he isn’t sure how he’ll be received by Toronto Blue Jays fans when he eventually returns to the MLB level.
“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think about it,” Colabello said Monday in a guest appearance on the Andrew Walker Show on Sportsnet 590 The FAN. “I don’t know what’s going through people’s minds. I don’t know what’s going through their hearts. I keep being myself every day. That’s all I can do. I hope it’s a positive (reception).”
“There will be people that don’t want to believe me and that’s okay. I would say to everyone to put themselves in my shoes for one day and see what that’s like. Life threw me this challenge and all I can do is try and move forward and be better because of it.”
Colabello, who was suspended by MLB on April 22 after testing positive for the performance-enhancing drug dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, will be eligible to return to the big leagues on July 23. The 32-year-old recently played five games with the Blue Jays’ Dunedin affiliate and will suit up for triple-A Buffalo starting Monday.
Beyond that Colabello’s future isn’t clear, however. With Justin Smoak and Edwin Encarnacion producing at first base and DH, the Blue Jays don’t have a pressing need for Colabello, who could be kept at the minor-league level for the rest of the season due to his remaining minor league options.
“Those kind of decisions are well beyond my control,”Colabello told Walker. “I just come to the field every day and prepare how I can to get better. It would be irresponsible to change now. It’s not a decision for me to make.”
Though Colabello’s excited to be playing baseball again, he acknowledged that the 2016 season has been hard on him, especially compared to his breakout 2015 season with the Blue Jays.
“There weren’t many parts that weren’t trying,” he said. “ Trying to search for answers and figure out why it happened. It’s all pretty difficult when there’s only one thing you want to do in the world and someone is telling you that you’re not allowed to do it. Especially for a reason that you can’t explain or have an answer to.”
“I wouldn’t trade last year for anything in the world,” he added. “That was about as much fun as anything I’ve ever had playing … it was an experience I’ll never forget.”
In the meantime, Colabello will remain focused on the mental side of the game and trying to keep his head clear from doubts and negative thoughts.
“Your mind is the important tool in this game and I don’t think it’s even close,” he said. “It’s not a game that’s based on athleticism or anything like that. It’s a cat and mouse game and outthinking people. That’s the part you need your mind for. Everything is a challenge and an adjustment. You need freedom mentally to do that. When I’m on the field, my mind is free. I’ve been able to go out with a clear mind recently.”
