Gary Brown helps fellow infielder Christian Colon to his feet during pre-game warm-ups in 2009. Photo courtesy mattbrownphoto.com.

By Juan Saucedo
Daily Titan Staff Writer

Cal State Fullerton baseball infielders Gary Brown and Christian Colon share similar mindsets when it comes to approaching the game – work hard and good things will happen.

But that’s not where their similarities end.

Brown and Colon, both juniors, were selected as freshman All-Americans in their first year with the Titans; they both played in the infield last season and they’re roommates.

Now the duo shares one more distinction by being selected as two of the top 25 college draft prospects for next year’s 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by Baseball America, one of the premiere baseball publications.

Brown and Colon joined University of Arkansas’ Brett Eibner and Zack Cox as the only schools to have multiple players on this year’s list, according to the CSUF athletics Web site.

“It’s huge for the program to have two guys on the list,” Colon said, also adding that he thinks they have the greatest coaches in the country.

Colon, who has a hitting average of .343 in his career at CSUF, said he is delighted to be chosen as a top prospect, but that he’s not going to let it get to his head.

Colon gets ready to field a ground ball during a Titan's home game. Photo courtesy mattbrownphoto.com.

“We still have to go out there and perform,” said Colon, who was named this year’s summer league Player of the Year by Baseball America.

Brown,  a .319 hitter with eight homers and 67 RBI’s in his career at CSUF, said making the top 25 is an honor but he feels that the list is just someone’s opinion. It doesn’t guarantee that they’ll make the MLB.

“Obviously I feel good, but it’s not something that I’m worried about right now,” said Brown, adding that he’s more focused on trying to prepare for the upcoming season.

However, Brown did find it exciting that he was picked alongside Colon, who played beside him for most of last season.

“He has been my closest friend,” Brown said.

Colon, who is rehabbing from a broken leg which he suffered near the end of summer league, said his parents were really excited when they heard the news. This is just a small step towards his ultimate goal of playing professionally.

“My goals were always to play in college and then in the MLB,” Colon said.

Mike Greenlee, assistant media relations director for baseball and women’s volleyball at CSUF, said the primary focus of publications such as Baseball America is to evaluate talent at all levels.

Gary Brown rounds the bases during a Titan's 2009 home game. Photo courtesy mattbrownphoto.com.

Greenlee said he sees the whole thing as an infinite cycle: having a player being considered a top prospect facilitates the program’s recruiting, which helps the team get better players.

Talented players help the team do well during the season, which leads to some of these student-athletes being considered top prospects.

Colon and Brown being selected as two of the top prospects this year demonstrates the caliber of student-athletes at the school, he said.

“CSUF strives to go out there and find talent that they could turn into extraordinary talent,” Greenlee said. “We continue to provide, in and out, year by year, talent that competes at the highest level.”