Posted: Mar 15, 2024

Paints Sign All-American Eric Colaco From Denison University

Jace Delgado / Denison University Athletics

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The back-to-back Prospect League champion Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, have signed outfielder Eric Colaco for the upcoming 2024 season, which begins May 28.

The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder is in his junior season at Denison University, which is ranked no. 6 in the country among NCAA Division III teams by D3Baseball.com. So far this spring (as of MArch 15), Colaco is hitting .391 with five doubles, 10 RBIs and 14 stolen bases through 11 games. Over 103 games spanning parts of three seasons with the Big Red, Colaco owns a career .371 batting average with 37 doubles, six triples, 15 home runs, 115 RBIs, 84 stolen bases and an on-base percentage of .448, while slugging .591.

Having started every game Denison has played since walking onto campus, Colaco has collected numerous awards for his efforts on the field, including Second-Team All-NCAC, NCAC All-Tournament Team and NCAC Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. As a sophomore last season, the Richfield, Ohio, native was named First-Team All-NCAC, NCAC All-Tournament Team, NCAC Player of the Year, First-Team All-Region by ABCA/Rawlings and D3Baseball.com, Fifth-Team All-American by D3Baseball.com and Third-Team All-America by ABCA/Rawlings.

Colaco's sophomore season in 2023 placed him highly on several of Denison's single-season all-time lists, including breaking the school records for at bats (201), hits (76), total bases (130), runs scored (70) and stolen bases (38). His 10 home runs were tied for the third-most in a single season at Denison, while his 60 RBIs ranked fourth and his 18 doubles were tied for sixth. He also hit safely in the first 28 games of the season, tying the programs single-season and career records for longest hitting streak. Heading into this spring, Colaco ranked second in program history in stolen bases (70), and is third in slugging percentage (.602), seventh in runs scored (130), and eighth in batting average (.369).

With a five-stolen base effort of March 12, Colaco became Denison's all-time leader in stolen bases...just 11 games into his junior season.

A graduate of Revere High School, Colaco was named First-Team All-League in baseball.

Colaco is a majoring in financial econoics at Dension and is a Mission 34 Ambassador.

The Chillicothe Paints open the home portion of their schedule Thursday, May 30, at VA Memorial Stadium against the Johnstown Mill Rats at 7:05 p.m. Draft beer will be just $2 for Thirsty Thursday and fans will be treated to a postgame Fireworks Extravaganza, sponsored by 94 Country, following the game. For advertising and season ticket information, visit ChillicothePaints.com.