Oscar Colás

Oscar Luis Colás Leon (born September 17, 1998) is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) in 2019. He made his MLB debut in 2023.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Colás and the second or maternal family name is Leon.
Oscar Colás
Colás with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in 2019
Chicago White Sox – No. 22
Outfielder
Born: (1998-09-17) September 17, 1998
Santiago de Cuba Province
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Professional debut
NPB: August 18, 2019, for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks
MLB: March 30, 2023, for the Chicago White Sox
NPB statistics
(through 2019 season)
Batting average.278
Home runs1
Runs batted in2
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.216
Home runs5
Runs batted in19
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Career

Cuban and Japanese career

In 2016–2017 season, Colás played in the Santiago de Cuba of the Cuban National Series.

On May 10, 2017, the Government of Cuba signed a contract to dispatch Colás and Liván Moinelo to the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a developmental player.[1][2]

From mid-2017 season to mid-2019 season, he played in informal matches against Shikoku Island League Plus's teams and amateur baseball teams, and played in the Western League of NPB's minor leagues.

On June 24, 2019, Colás signed a 15 million yen contract (~US$140,000) with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks as a registered player under control.[3] On August 18, he debuted against the Saitama Seibu Lions, and recorded a home run at the first Plate appearance in the Pacific League.[4] In 2019 season, he played 7 games in the Pacific League.

On January 3, 2020, Francys Romero of MLB.com reported that Colás has defected from Cuba and is looking to sign on with a Major League team.[5] On December 23, 2020, Colás was officially granted his release and declared a free agent by Major League Baseball. He was made eligible to sign with a club starting in January 2021.

Chicago White Sox

On January 25, 2022, Colás signed with the Chicago White Sox. His bonus was worth $2.7 million.[6] Soon after, Colás gave up pitching to focus on outfield work.[7] Colas spent the 2022 season split between three White Sox affiliates: the High-A Winston-Salem Dash, Double-A Birmingham Barons, and Triple-A Charlotte Knights. In 117 games between the three clubs, Colás slashed .314/.371/.524 while tallying 23 home runs, 79 RBIs, and three stolen bases.[8]

On March 26, 2023, the White Sox announced that Colás had made the Opening Day roster.[9] He had his contract selected on March 30, 2023, and he made his MLB debut on the same day, recording a hit as a pinch hitter.[10] Colás batted .211 with one home run and seven RBIs in 25 games before he was optioned to Charlotte. In 48 games for Charlotte, he batted .293 with nine home runs and 29 RBIs before he was promoted to the major leagues in July.[11]

References
  1. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク、キューバ代表モイネロらと育成契約". Nikkan Sports. May 10, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  2. In the NPB, in addition to the 70 registered players under management (active roster of players), each team can have developmental squad players for the purpose of improving their baseball skills and training manners. They aim to be promoted to registered players under management within the 3 year contract period (Non-tender free agent players and contract expired players renew their contracts every year).
  3. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンクが来日3年目のコラスを支配下登録". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). June 24, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  4. "Nikkan Sports baseball news (Japanese) ソフトバンク・コラス、球団初の初打席初球本塁打". Nikkan Sports (in Japanese). August 18, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  5. "'Cuban Ohtani' pursuing path to MLB". MLB.com. January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  6. "Chicago White Sox announce deal with Cuban slugger Oscar Colas". ESPN. January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  7. "Oscar Colas Done Pitching, Will Focus On Outfield Work With White Sox". MLB Trade Rumors. January 28, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  8. "White Sox's Oscar Colas: Bumped up to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  9. "White Sox's Oscar Colas: Expected to make Opening Day roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  10. https://www.mlb.com/news/oscar-colas-first-hit-mlb-debut-white-sox
  11. https://abc7chicago.com/sports/chicago-white-sox-recall-oscar-colas-from-triple-a-charlotte/13461310/
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