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Bartolo Colón (born May 24, 1973), nicknamed "Big Sexy", is a Dominican American professional
baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
pitcher In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
for the Karachi Monarchs of Baseball United. He previously played for 11 different
Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) teams: the
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
(1997–2002),
Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...
(2002),
Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
(2003, 2009),
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. Since 1966, the team has pl ...
(2004–2007),
Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
(2008),
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
(2011),
Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
(2012–2013),
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
(2014–2016),
Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
(2017),
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
(2017), and Texas Rangers (2018). Colón also played for the Águilas Cibaeñas of the Dominican Professional Baseball League (Dominican Winter League) and the Acereros de Monclova of the
Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...
. Colón was selected to four MLB All-Star Games: for the Indians (1998), Angels (2005), Athletics (2013), and Mets (2016). He won the
American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is the younger of two sports leagues, leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western L ...
Cy Young Award The Cy Young Award is given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American League (AL) and National League (baseball), National League (NL). The award was introduced in 1956 by Commissioner of Baseball ( ...
with the Angels in 2005, when he led the league in wins. With the Mets in 2016, he became the oldest player to hit his first career home run, at 42 years and 349 days old. At age 45 during the 2018 season, Colón was the oldest active major league player and the last to have played for the Montreal Expos. He holds the record for most career wins by a Latin American-born pitcher. In his last major-league season (2018), Colón and Rangers teammate Adrián Beltré were the last active players to have played in the 1990s. In August 2022, Colón announced that he intended to retire after the 2022–23 Dominican winter season. However, on October 23, 2023, Colón was drafted by the Karachi Monarchs of Baseball United.


Early life

Colón grew up in the town of Altamira in the
Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...
. He worked long days alongside his father, Miguel, harvesting coffee beans and fruit from the age of 9 to 14. Colón credited his childhood job with the development of his strength. He frequently does major charity work for his old community. Colón's mother, Adriana, died in 2014 of breast cancer.


Major league pitching career


Cleveland Indians

Colón was signed by the
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
as an amateur
free agent In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...
in 1993 and began his career in their minor league system. In 1995, pitching for Kinston of the Single-A
Carolina League The Carolina League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated along the Atlantic Coast of the United States since 1945. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 unti ...
, he finished second in wins with 13 and
ERA An era is a span of time. Era or ERA may also refer to: * Era (geology), a subdivision of geologic time * Calendar era Education * Academy of European Law (German: '), an international law school * ERA School, in Melbourne, Australia * E ...
with 1.96, and led the circuit with 152
strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...
s. He was named the league's Pitcher of the Year, despite shutting down on August 1 with a bruised elbow. He was named the Indians' 1995 Minor League Player of the Year (receiving the " Lou Boudreau Award"). He played Triple-A ball with the Buffalo Bisons in 1997 and on June 21 became the only player in team history to throw a
no-hitter In baseball, a no-hitter or no-hit game is a game in which a team does not record a hit (baseball), hit through conventional methods. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in ...
at Sahlen Field, then called North AmeriCare Park. Colón made his major league debut against the Anaheim Angels on April 4, 1997, receiving a no decision. In his first MLB season, Colón went 4–7 with a 5.65 earned run average. The following year, he set the modern-day but unofficial major league record for throwing the most pitches (20) in a single
at bat In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens upon completion of his turn at bat, ...
on June 26, 1998 against Ricky Gutiérrez, who eventually struck out. That record was broken in 2018. Later that season, Colón won his only start of the 1998 American League Championship Series, pitching a four- hit, one- run
complete game In baseball, a complete game (CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played—pitche ...
. In his 1999 season, Colón finished 18–5, pitching over 200
innings An innings is one of the divisions of a cricket match during which one team takes its turn to bat. Innings also means the period in which an individual player bats (acts as either striker or nonstriker). In cricket and rounders, "innings" is ...
with 161 strikeouts and a 3.95 earned run average. On September 18, 2000, Colón pitched a one-hitter against the New York Yankees. In both 2000 and 2001, Colón posted over 200 strikeouts, making him the first Indians pitcher since Gaylord Perry to record at least 200 strikeouts in back-to-back seasons.


Montreal Expos

On June 27, 2002, the Indians traded Colón and Tim Drew to the
Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...
in exchange for Lee Stevens, Brandon Phillips, Grady Sizemore, and Cliff Lee. Colón finished 2002 with a combined 20–8 record and a 2.93 earned run average, including 76
earned run In baseball, an earned run is any run that was fully enabled by the offensive team's production in the face of competent play from the defensive team. Conversely, an unearned run is a run that would not have been scored without the aid of an erro ...
s with 70 walks in innings, three
shutout In team sports, a shutout (North American English, US) or clean sheet (Commonwealth English, UK) is a game in which the losing team fails to score. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketba ...
s, and eight
complete game In baseball, a complete game (CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played—pitche ...
s. Ultimately, he was the last active player who had played for the Montreal Expos.


Chicago White Sox

Before the 2003 season, Colón was traded to the
Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
with minor leaguer Jorge Nunez for Orlando Hernández, Rocky Biddle, Jeff Liefer and cash.


Anaheim Angels

A free agent after the previous season, he signed with the Anaheim Angels in 2004. Colón won 18 games with Anaheim in 2004. During the 2005 season, he went 21–8 with a 3.48 earned run average, and became the first Angels pitcher to win the Cy Young Award since Dean Chance in 1964. Due to a partially torn
rotator cuff The rotator cuff (SITS muscles) is a group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the human shoulder and allow for its extensive range of motion. Of the seven scapulohumeral muscles, four make up the rotator cuff. The four muscles a ...
that he received in a playoff game against the Yankees in 2005, Colón spent much of the 2006 season on the injured list with soreness or inflammation in his right shoulder. In 10 starts, Colón went 1–5 with a 5.11 earned run average. On April 21, 2007, his first start of the 2007 season following his return from the injured list, Colón pitched 7 innings, allowing one run on seven hits for his first win in 2007.


Boston Red Sox

On February 25, 2008, Colón signed a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox and was invited to
spring training Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...
. On May 15, 2008, he threw a one-hitter for the Red Sox' Triple-A team, the
Pawtucket Red Sox The Pawtucket Red Sox, known colloquially as the PawSox, were a professional minor league baseball club based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From 1973 to 2020, the team was a member of the International League and served as the Triple-A affiliate ...
. Six days later, Colón's contract was purchased by the Red Sox, and he was added to the active roster. Colón pitched his first game for the Red Sox on May 21, 2008, against the
Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
. He earned his 150th career win on June 11, 2008, against the
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
. On September 19, 2008, Colón was placed on the suspended list by the Red Sox after leaving for the Dominican Republic to handle "personal matters" and deciding to stay, effectively ending his Red Sox career. He was placed on the restricted list on September 25, 2008. Colón spent the postseason on the restricted list as the Red Sox won the 2008 ALDS against the
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. Since 1966, the team has pl ...
in 4 games, but lost the 2008 ALCS against the
Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...
in 7 games. He filed for free agency after the end of the 2008 season.


Second stint with the White Sox

Colón agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract to return to the
Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...
in January 2009, shortly after they traded Javier Vázquez to the Atlanta Braves. He competed for the fourth and fifth starters' positions in the White Sox rotation. Colón made his comeback from off-season surgery to remove bone chips from his pitching arm elbow during the White Sox Spring training, in the Cactus League in Arizona. Manager Ozzie Guillén named him the White Sox' fifth starter before the start of the regular season. Colón won his first start in his second stint in Chicago, pitching six strong innings of three-hit ball as the Sox blanked Minnesota 8–0 on April 11, 2009. In doing so he became the first White Sox starting pitcher to win a regular season game in 2009. Colón then suffered another injury and did not pitch again for the remainder of the season. He was released on September 16.


New York Yankees

Colón did not pitch in 2010 due to ongoing right shoulder and elbow pain and damage to the rotator cuff, ligaments and tendons. In March 2010, he received a transplant of stem cells to repair the damaged tissues in his right shoulder. The orthopedic surgeon who performed the surgery said he had used
human growth hormone Growth hormone (GH) or somatotropin, also known as human growth hormone (hGH or HGH) in its human form, is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and cell regeneration in humans and other animals. It is thus important in ...
in previous surgeries of the same type but not with Colón. The surgery was scrutinized by Major League Baseball but no wrongdoing was found. Colón then played in the Pre-World Championship in Puerto Rico, winter ball with the Aguilas and the Leones del Escogido, and the Puerto Rican winter league, and announced that he would attempt a comeback to the major leagues for the 2011 season. He signed a minor-league deal with the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
on January 26, 2011. Colón was invited to spring training, competing for a spot on the 25-man roster, despite coming into camp 30 pounds overweight. He was named to the Yankees' Opening Day roster in the bullpen. Colón made his first start for the Yankees on April 20, taking the rotation spot of the injured Phil Hughes. Through May, Colon was 3–3 with a 3.26 earned run average. On May 30, 2011, he threw a four-hit shutout, his first since 2006 against the Athletics. He sustained a hamstring injury on June 11, 2011, against the
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
. When he was injured, he was in the seventh inning of a shutout game, but he limped off the field after covering first base on a ground ball to Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira. Colón then ended up on the 15-day injured list. He said that he would be back pitching right when eligible. On July 2, Colón returned to the Yankees and threw six shutout innings against the New York Mets. On July 14 against the Blue Jays, Colón exited after recording only two outs in the first inning while yielding eight runs, the shortest outing of his career. Colón's 2011 season was somewhat of a resurgence, going 8–10 with a 4.00 earned run average and a 1.29 walks plus hits divided by innings pitched ratio. He was demoted to the bullpen when the Yankees made the postseason and the team lost to the Detroit Tigers in the 2011 ALDS. He became a free agent following the end of the season.


Oakland Athletics

On January 14, 2012, Colón agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract with the
Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
. He started the second game of the season for the Athletics in the Opening Series in Tokyo, Japan, throwing eight innings, giving up one run over three hits while recording six strikeouts. On April 18 Colón threw 38 consecutive strikes, the most since 1988, when MLB began to collect pitching data in-depth, in a start against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He started the 2012 season with a 3–1 record and 2.64 earned run average, but faltered with a 1–4 record and 5.80 earned run average in his next seven starts. On August 22, 2012, MLB suspended Colón for 50 games after he tested positive for synthetic
testosterone Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone and androgen in Male, males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of Male reproductive system, male reproductive tissues such as testicles and prostate, as well as promoting se ...
, a performance-enhancing substance in violation of the Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He was the second major leaguer to be suspended within a two-week time frame for testosterone (along with
San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
star
Melky Cabrera Melky Cabrera Astacio (born August 11, 1984), nicknamed "the Melkman", is a Dominican former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blu ...
). The Athletics signed Colón to a one-year, $3 million deal for 2013. He was selected for his third
All-Star An all-star team is a group of people all having a high level of performance in their field. Originating in sports, it has since drifted into vernacular and has been borrowed heavily by the entertainment industry. Sports "All-star" as a sport ...
team in July after posting an 11–3 record with a 2.78 earned run average.


New York Mets


2014

On December 11, 2013, Colón agreed to a two-year, $20 million contract with the
New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...
. On June 18, he got his first hit in nine years when he hit a double off Lance Lynn. On August 8, 2014, Colón recorded his 200th win in a 5–4 victory over the Phillies. He is the third Dominican-born pitcher to do so, after Juan Marichal and Pedro Martínez, and the third pitcher to do so in a Mets uniform, after
Orel Hershiser Orel Leonard Hershiser IV (born September 16, 1958) is an American former baseball pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1983 to 2000. He later became a pitching coach for the Texas Rangers from 2002 to 2005 and a br ...
and Martínez. Colón finished the 2014 season with 31 starts, 15–13 record, innings pitched, 151 strikeouts, and a 4.09 earned run average while giving up 218 hits, 30 walks, 22 home runs, and 97 runs (92 of them earned).


2015

In 2015 against the
Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...
, Colón became the third opening day pitcher over 40 years old to strike out eight batters, after
Cy Young Denton True "Cy" Young (March 29, 1867 – November 4, 1955) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher. Born in Gilmore, Ohio, he worked on his family's farm as a youth before starting his professional baseball career. Young entered t ...
and
Nolan Ryan Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. (born January 31, 1947), nicknamed "the Ryan Express", is an American former professional baseball pitcher and sports executive. Over a record 27-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB), Ryan pitched for the New Yo ...
. On April 12, 2015, against the
Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
, Colón hit a run-scoring single off Alex Wood, the 6th run batted in of his career. On April 23, 2015, Colón completed an unassisted pickoff of
Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
catcher A. J. Pierzynski en route to becoming the first pitcher aged 40 years or older to win his first four starts in a season in the past 80 years. He also tallied one more run batted in, a double on May 31, 2015. Colón became the first pitcher ever to record wins against one team (the
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
) for seven different clubs. Six pitchers held the previous record of six clubs. On June 9, 2015, Colón set a new Mets franchise record of most consecutive decisions as a starting pitcher, achieving 26 decisions in 26 consecutive starts. This record was previously held by Dwight Gooden. On September 5, 2015, Justin Bour of the
Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League East, East Division. The ...
hit a chopper down the first-base line; Colón charged and made a behind-the-back flip to first for the out. Video of the play garnered widespread media acclaim. In 33 games (31 starts), he finished the 2015 season with a 14–13 record and a 4.16 earned run average. On October 21, 2015, Colón pitched innings in relief to earn the win in game 4 of the 2015 National League Championship Series and help the Mets sweep the
Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
. On October 27, 2015, Colón pitched innings in relief and took the loss at the end of Game 1 of the
World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...
, becoming the oldest man ever to lose a World Series game. It was his first World Series appearance since he was a rookie with the Indians in 1997, and the Mets lost the series in five games to the
Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...
.


2016

On December 16, 2015, Colón re-signed with the Mets on a 1-year, $7.25 million contract. He entered the 2016 major league season as the oldest active player. Following the retirement of Maicer Izturis, he became the last active major league player who appeared for the
Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...
. On May 7, Colón hit his first major league home run, against the
San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
at Petco Park off of James Shields. At age 42 years and 349 days, Colón broke a record, becoming the oldest major league player to hit his first home run. He was later awarded NL Player of the Week. On June 21, he was injured when Whit Merrifield hit his pitch right to the pitcher's mound, striking Colón in the thumb. He was immediately taken out of the game. On July 8, Colón was named to the 2016 MLB All-Star Game, replacing Madison Bumgarner. On August 15, he drew a
walk Walking (also known as ambulation) is one of the main gaits of terrestrial locomotion among legged animals. Walking is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined as an "inverted pendulum" gait in which the body vaults over ...
after having not been walked in his previous 281 plate appearances, achieving a new MLB record. On October 1, Colón became the 47th player ever to make 500 career starts.


Atlanta Braves

On November 17, 2016, Colón signed a one-year, $12.5 million contract with the
Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...
. The Braves designated him for assignment on June 29, 2017, after he put up a 2–8 record with an 8.14 earned run average and 1.78 WHIP in 13 starts. He was released on July 4.


Minnesota Twins

On July 7, 2017, Colón signed a minor league contract with the
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
. Colón was called up on July 18 to start against the New York Yankees. On August 4, he threw a complete game against the Texas Rangers; at age 44, he became the oldest American League pitcher to record a nine-inning complete-game win since 45-year-old
Nolan Ryan Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. (born January 31, 1947), nicknamed "the Ryan Express", is an American former professional baseball pitcher and sports executive. Over a record 27-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB), Ryan pitched for the New Yo ...
did the same in 1992. Later that month he became the 18th pitcher to record a win against all 30 MLB teams, completing the feat against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He became a free agent following the season.


Texas Rangers

On February 4, 2018, Colón signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers that included an invitation to spring training. He was released on March 24, and signed another minor league contract with Texas on March 26. Colón was called up on April 2 to start against the Oakland Athletics. On April 15, Colón took a perfect game through 7 innings until walking Carlos Correa. Colón went through 7 innings, allowing one run as the Rangers won 3–1 in 10 innings. On April 28, 2018, he pitched seven innings while allowing six hits and three runs on 98 pitches, being the winning pitcher in a 7–4 result against the
Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
. This was the eleventh team with which he recorded at least one win. A win on June 18 against Kansas City moved him past Juan Marichal, the "Dominican Dandy", to become the pitcher with most career wins from the
Dominican Republic The Dominican Republic is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles of the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a Maritime boundary, maritime border with Puerto Rico to the east and ...
. On August 7, in an 11–4 victory against the
Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...
, Colón earned his 246th career pitching win, moving him past Dennis Martinez for the most victories all time by a Latin American-born pitcher. He elected free agency on October 29, and was not signed for the 2019 season.


Acereros de Monclova

On February 14, 2020, Colón signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the
Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...
. However, he never played in 2020, since the
Mexican League The Mexican Baseball League (, or LMB, ) is a professional baseball league in Mexico. It is the oldest running professional sports league in the country. The league has 20 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games ...
season was canceled due to the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. He made his first pre-season appearance for the team on May 1, 2021. Colon made his regular season debut on May 21 and pitched five innings, giving up five hits and one run. In August 2022, he announced that he would retire from baseball following one last season of winter league baseball with the Águilas Cibaeñas of Dominican Professional Baseball League. In 11 starts 61.1 innings of work he went 6-2 with a 4.55 ERA and 40 strikeouts. On June 2, 2023, Colón officially retired from professional baseball.


Karachi Monarchs

On October 23, 2023, Colón was selected in the second round by the Karachi Monarchs, with the 16th overall pick of the 2023 Baseball United inaugural draft. In being selected, Colon returned from his retirement from professional baseball.


Pitching style

Colón threw four pitches. Early in his career, he had excellent velocity on his
four-seam fastball A four-seam fastball, also called a rising fastball, a four-seamer, or a cross-seam fastball, is a pitch (baseball), pitch in baseball. It is a member of the fastball family of pitches and is usually the fastest ball thrown by a pitcher. It is s ...
, throwing it in the mid-90s and occasionally touching 100 mph. In his later career, Colón's four-seamer sat at 86–91 mph, and he paired it with a two-seamer at 84–88 mph. This combination of fastballs made up nearly 90% of Colón's pitches, but he also throws a changeup to left-handed hitters, and a slider. He was primarily known as a control pitcher, with an exceptional ability to spot pitches at any location. This kept the number of walks he allowed to a minimum, but led to more hits as he would attempt to throw strikes.


Awards and accomplishments


Awards

*
Cy Young Award The Cy Young Award is given annually to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB), one each for the American League (AL) and National League (baseball), National League (NL). The award was introduced in 1956 by Commissioner of Baseball ( ...
(
2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...
) * 4× MLB All-Star (
1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
,
2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...
,
2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...
,
2016 2016 was designated as: * International Year of Pulses by the sixty-eighth session of the United Nations General Assembly. * International Year of Global Understanding (IYGU) by the International Council for Science (ICSU), the Internationa ...
) * 4× Pitcher of the Month Award (June
1998 1998 was designated as the ''International Year of the Ocean''. Events January * January 6 – The ''Lunar Prospector'' spacecraft is launched into orbit around the Moon, and later finds evidence for Lunar water, frozen water, in soil i ...
, May
2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...
, August
2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...
, June
2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...
) * 5× Player of the Week Award (June 21, 1998; September 24, 2000; September 14, 2003; September 6, 2016; May 8, 2016) * Players Choice Award for Outstanding Pitcher (2005) * ''The Sporting News'' Pitcher of the Year (2005) * Set record for most wins by a
Latin American Latin Americans (; ) are the citizenship, citizens of Latin American countries (or people with cultural, ancestral or national origins in Latin America). Latin American countries and their Latin American diaspora, diasporas are Metroethnicity, ...
pitcher (247 – August 7, 2018)


League statistical leader

* 2× NL bases on balls per nine innings leader (2015, 2016) * 2× MLB complete games leader (
2002 The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...
,
2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...
) * NL hits allowed leader (
2015 2015 was designated by the United Nations as: * International Year of Light * International Year of Soil __TOC__ Events January * January 1 – Lithuania officially adopts the euro as its currency, replacing the litas, and becomes ...
) * MLB shutouts leader (
2013 2013 was the first year since 1987 to contain four unique digits (a span of 26 years). 2013 was designated as: *International Year of Water Cooperation *International Year of Quinoa Events January * January 5 – 2013 Craig, Alask ...
) * AL wins leader (
2005 2005 was designated as the International Year for Sport and Physical Education and the International Year of Microcredit. The beginning of 2005 also marked the end of the International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples, Internationa ...
)


Nickname

Colón was known as "Big Sexy" by his teammates and the media. He applied for a trademark on the Big Sexy nickname and plans on making apparel out of it.


Personal life

Colón's wife, Rosanna, and their four sons; Bartolo Jr., Emilio, Wilder and Randy, live in
New Jersey New Jersey is a U.S. state, state located in both the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. Located at the geographic hub of the urban area, heavily urbanized Northeas ...
. On September 30, 2014, Colón and his wife became US citizens. Colón met his wife in the Dominican Republic when he was 13 years old. In 2015, Colón was sued in
Manhattan Manhattan ( ) is the most densely populated and geographically smallest of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City. Coextensive with New York County, Manhattan is the County statistics of the United States#Smallest, larg ...
by a Washington Heights woman seeking
child support Child support (or child maintenance) is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child (state or parent, caregiver, guardian) following the end of a marriage or other similar relationship. Child maintenance is ...
for her son and daughter, who were fathered by Colón during his marriage. On June 17, 2016, Colón and Alexandra Santos agreed to a deal that included child support payments.


See also

* List of Major League Baseball annual shutout leaders * List of Major League Baseball career games started leaders * List of Major League Baseball career innings pitched leaders *
List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders :''This list is for pitchers. For career strikeouts by batters, see List of Major League Baseball career strikeouts by batters leaders'' The following list is of the top 100 pitchers in career strikeouts in Major League Baseball. In baseball, a s ...
* List of Major League Baseball career wins leaders * List of Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic * List of Major League Baseball players suspended for performance-enhancing drugs * Los Angeles Angels award winners and league leaders


References


External links

: {{DEFAULTSORT:Colon, Bartolo 1973 births Living people Acereros de Monclova players Águilas Cibaeñas players American League All-Stars American League wins champions American sportspeople of Dominican Republic descent Anaheim Angels players Atlanta Braves players Boston Red Sox players Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players Burlington Indians players (1986–2006) Canton-Akron Indians players Charlotte Knights players Chicago White Sox players Cleveland Indians players Cy Young Award winners Dominican Republic emigrants to the United States Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Canada Dominican Republic expatriate baseball players in Mexico Dominican Republic sportspeople in doping cases Kannapolis Intimidators players Kinston Indians players Los Angeles Angels players Major League Baseball pitchers Major League Baseball players from the Dominican Republic 20th-century Dominican Republic sportsmen Major League Baseball players suspended for drug offenses Minnesota Twins players Montreal Expos players National League All-Stars New York Mets players New York Yankees players Oakland Athletics players Pawtucket Red Sox players People from Puerto Plata Province Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players Rochester Red Wings players Salt Lake Bees players Texas Rangers players World Baseball Classic players of the Dominican Republic 2006 World Baseball Classic players 2017 World Baseball Classic players Age controversies in sports