McDonald County hires 2015 World Series champ to be next head baseball coach

Q: Who is Christian Colon and what is his baseball background?

Christian Colon is a former professional baseball player who played for the Kansas City Royals and was part of the team that won the 2015 World Series.

Q: What are Christian Colon's goals as the new head baseball coach at McDonald County High School?

Colon aims to develop a well-respected baseball program and push students to excel on the field.

Q: Where does Christian Colon live and what is his connection to McDonald County?

Christian Colon lives in Cave Springs, Arkansas, and has family in McDonald County, which familiarized him with the area.

Q: What experience does Christian Colon have with coaching high school baseball?

This is Colon's first opportunity to coach at the high school level, as he looks to engage with young athletes and relate to their experiences.

In November 2015, Christian Colon lined a single into left field to put the Kansas City Royals on top of the New York Mets 3-2 in 12th inning of Game 5 in the World Series.

That hit was all the Royals would need as they went on to win the game 7-2 and the Series 4-1.

More than 10 years later, Colon has accepted a job opportunity to become McDonald County High School’s next head baseball coach as he looks for his next big hit on the diamond.

“I want to develop this into a well-respected program, and I want to push the kids to be the best they can be on the field,” Colon said. “My family is looking forward to it. I have four young daughters. We live in Cave Springs, Arkansas. We have family that live in the county (McDonald County), so that’s how I was familiar with the area. This was a chance to dip my toes in the water in terms of high school baseball. I’m ready for it.

“I want to be able to relate to every level. I think that is helpful for the modern-day athlete.”

He has experience at every level so far.

Colon played college baseball from 2008 to 2010 at Cal State Fullerton before going into the MLB draft. He spent 11 seasons in the big leagues with six teams, including the Royals.

After retiring from baseball following the 2020 season when he played for the Cincinnati Reds, Colon returned to help Kansas City with the Double-A affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

He worked as a bench coach, the third base coach and the assistant hitting coach for the 2022 and ’23 seasons. He also worked in Kansas City in 2025 as a hitting coordinator for the Kansas City Monarchs, a team in the American Association. The American Association is an MLB Partner League, and the Monarchs play at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

Between those two jobs, Colon also spent a season as the manager of the Arkansas Travelers, the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, and led them to a Texas League championship in 2024.

The 36-year-old is currently working as an assistant coach at Fayetteville High School in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He spoke about the decision to move from the pro level down to high school.

“Allowing God to work in me, man. I want to help any high school player who wants to play after high school and to push them to be the best person and player they can be,” Colon said. “I want kids in this area to feel like they’re supported and supported by someone whose been everywhere in baseball.”

He will begin his head coaching career at the high school level with the Mustangs at the start of the 2027 season. The Mustangs are currently 4-8 overall in 2026 and are coming off of two seasons with four or fewer wins in the two years prior to this season.

Before that, McDonald County had posted consecutive 20-win seasons in ’22 and ’23. One of those saw it finish runner-up in Class 5 District 7 after losing the district championship 2-0 against Webb City.

“I believe in these guys and what we have. The goal is to get as many wins as we can but also to develop them and feel like they’re achieving their goals. It’s more important to me to send the message to win every pitch right now and eventually have a good productive season and win state,” he said.

But he also has a goal in mind beyond the production and results his team will have on the diamond.

“Their character is something that will always stick with them whether they play baseball or not. I think there are times where professional athletes go through a lot, and I want them to be able to come to me and ask me questions. I’m here to support their journey but also help them,” Colon said.

That’s a big part of why athletic director Bo Bergen chose to bring Colon in as the ninth head coach at McDonald County.

“We are extremely excited to welcome coach Colon and his family to Mustang Nation. His experience as a player and coach at the professional level speaks for itself but — perhaps more importantly — he is a purpose-driven leader and has a calling to leave a lasting impact on younger players through the game of baseball,” Bergen said. “His purpose and mission make him a perfect fit for McDonald County. I look forward to working with him and our current coaching staff to bring his vision for our program to life.”

Colon and his wife, Kayla, have four children together — Marley, 17, Mia, 9, Lucy, 8, and Kamila, 3.