The waiting lasted days, the anxiousness simmering to a slow boil. The future was uncertain, so Christian Colon spelled out the reality to his wife and family.
In the final week of spring training, Colon had been notified by Royals manager Ned Yost that he was competing with utilityman Whit Merrifield for a final roster spot. Raul Mondesi had locked up the starting job at second base, an unexpected development. The club was likely to keep outfielder Terrance Gore as a pinch runner. And this left Colon in a strange limbo.
With no options remaining, Colon had to make the 25-man roster or be placed on waivers, where he could be claimed by another team.