Bartolo Colon, Starting Pitcher

Date of Birth: 5/24/1973
Birthplace: Altamira, Dominican Republic

Bartolo Colon, starting pitcher, was first signed in 1993 by the Cleveland Indians. He played in their minor league system from 1994 until he was called up to the Indians in 1997 for 19 games.

In 1998, Colon had a strong first full season in the major leagues, pitching 204.0 innings in 31 games and finishing with a 14-9 record and a 3.71 ERA. The following season, he had 18 wins to 5 losses with a 3.95 ERA. In 2000, he had a career high 212 strikeouts to 98 walks and a 15-8 record with a 3.88 ERA.

After 16 games with a 2.55 ERA in 2002, the Indians traded Colon to the Montreal Expos. That season, he finished with a 20-8 record and a 2.93 ERA. Prior to the 2003 season, Colon was traded again, this time to the Chicago White Sox. In 2003, he pitched a career high 242.0 innings in 34 games and he finished with a 15-13 record and a 3.87 ERA.

Colon became a free agent after the 2003 season and he signed with the Los Angeles Angels. He had one of his strongest seasons in 2005 when he won the American League Cy Young award. That year, he led the AL in wins with a career high 21 (to 8 losses). The following year, he suffered from injuries and he spent much of the 2006 season on the DL, pitching in just 10 games with the Angels.

In February, 2008, Colon signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. After just seven games with the Red Sox in 2008, Colon returned to the Dominican Republic for personal reasons. In January, 2009, he returned to the White Sox with a one-year, $1 million contract. He suffered from injuries in 2010 and missed the entire season.

Colon joined the New York Yankees in 2011 after signing a minor league contract with them in January, 2011. He made their starting rotation in Spring training and he finished the season with an 8-10 record and a 4.00 ERA.

In January, 2012, Colon signed a one-year, $2 million contract with the Oakland Athletics. He lost 50 games of the 2012 season on a suspension for PED use. After signing another one-year, $3 million contract with the Athletics in 2013, he again had a strong season, winning 18 games (to 6 losses) and finishing with a career low ERA of 2.65. In December, 2013, he signed a two-year, $20 million contract with the New York Mets.

Colon finished the 2014 season with 202.1 innings pitched in 31 games. He had a 15-13 record with 151 strikeouts to 30 walks and a 4.09 ERA.

Colon pitched in 33 games with the Mets in 2015. He finished the season with a 14-13 record, 136 strikeouts to 24 walks, and a 4.16 ERA in 194.2 innings. As a relief pitcher in the postseason, he gave up 7 hits, including a home run, and 2 earned runs in 8.2 innings in 7 games.

Colon signed a new one-year, $7.25 million contract with the Mets on December 18, 2015. He had another good year in 2016, finishing with a 3.43 ERA, 15 wins to 8 losses, and 128 strikeouts to 32 walks in 191.2 innings in 34 games. He didn't pitch in the Wild Card game.

Colon signed with the Atlanta Braves on November 11, 2016. He was released by the Braves on July 4, 2017. He signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins on July 7th. He finished the 2017 season with a career high ERA of 6.48, 7 wins and 14 losses, and 89 strikeouts to 35 walks in 143.0 innings in 28 games.

Colon elected free agency on November 2, 2017. He signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers on February 4, 2018. He was released on March 24th and re-signed on March 26th. He finished the 2018 season with 7 wins and 12 losses, 81 strikeouts to 25 walks, and a 5.78 ERA in 146.1 innings in 28 games.

Colon became a free agent on October 29, 2018. He didn't play professional baseball in 2019.

Colon signed with a Mexican League team on February 14, 2020. He didn't play professional baseball in 2020.

Colon played in the Mexican League in 2021.

Statistics for Colon in 21 seasons (1997-2009, 2011-2018) in the major leagues include:

• 12 seasons with 30 or more games, with a high of 34 in 2001, 2003, 2004, and 2016
• 8 seasons with 200 or more innings pitched, with a high of 242.0 in 2003
• 5 seasons with 18 or more wins, with a high of 21 in 2005
• 8 seasons with over 150 strikeouts, with a high of 212 in 2000
• 2 seasons with an ERA under 3.00, with a low of 2.65 in 2013

Career pitching statistics for Colon through 2018 include:

• 565 games played
• 3,461.2 innings pitched
• 247-188 win-loss record
• 2,535 strikeouts to 948 walks
• 4.12 ERA

Personal Life

Colon and his wife Sylvia have one son and one daughter.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Bartolo Colon
ESPN - Bartolo Colon