I was doing some more research on kids whose stars shined brightly in the desert in the 2009 AFL and came across the story of Colin Curtis, which is a story too good not to be told. Curtis is the property of the World Champion New York Yankees.
The Yankees are currently trying to decide on whether or not to bring back Johnny Damon and/or World Series MVP Hideki Matsui. I have a sneaking suspicion they’re going to go after outfielder Matt Holliday, that sounds okay to me, but I’d let both Damon & Matsui walk if I chose to sign Holliday, and give youngster Colin Curtis a shot at the leftfield spot, with Holliday becoming the regular DH.
I’m sure you’re asking, who is this Curtis kid, known also as C-2? Colin was the three year starting centerfielder for the Arizona Sun Devils, where he batted .300, .342, & .335, with a total of 40 stolen bases. Maybe more impressive than this kid’s baseball talents is his makeup. As a high school senior he was the leader of his Issaquah, WA team which won the state championship, all this after he beat testicular cancer.
I’m not saying the Yankees should just give this kid the job based on a sappy sentimental story, he can play! Colin batted .397 (2nd in the league) with a .472 OBP in twenty games in the AFL, showing patience at the plate with eleven walks. To be fair this 2006 4th round draft has struggled since being drafted, not hitting above .270 above Single A, with a disappointing .235 at Triple A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2009 most recently staring back at him in his rear view mirror.
This game isn’t just about numbers, it’s also about character, as the Yankees might’ve finally found out, it’s about overcoming adversity, and if that’s the case, then I look forward to watching Colin Curtis in the New York Yankees outfield very soon.