Even although Bartolo Colon hasn’t thrown a pitch in the majors since September 2018, the 46-year-old will not be fascinated about retirement.
Colon hopes to pitch one more massive league season, and if given the selection, it might be with the New York Mets.
“I thought that last year maybe I would have the opportunity,” Colon mentioned on a video name with ESPN. “I know that if it didn’t happen last year, this year would be less likely. I’m getting older and the game is all about the young pitchers coming up. When you get older, teams no longer need your services.”
Colon, who has pitched 21 seasons and received 247 video games, mentioned his time with the Mets from 2014 to ’16 held a few of his fondest recollections. He highlighted the clubhouse setting and the Mets’ younger pitching employees, notably Noah Syndergaard, who anointed him “Big Sexy” — which grew to become the title of his just lately launched autobiography.
Colon referred to as his 2012 suspension the “most difficult” second of his profession and thanked the Yankees for giving him the alternative to return to baseball the subsequent yr.
Colon, who turns 47 successive week, went on to play one other six seasons, finally surpassing Nicaraguan Dennis Martinez (245) as the winningest Latino pitcher of all time.
“Signing with the Yankees was something special because they were the ones that brought me back, thanks to Tony Pena. They were the ones who gave me a chance,” he mentioned. “When manager Joe Girardi called me into his office and said, ‘We have a role for you, but it would be as reliever,’ I told Tony to tell him that I would accept whatever role they had for me, and Girardi said to go home and think about it overnight. And I said I did not have to think about it at all; all I wanted was to be in the major leagues, even as a bat boy.”
For Colon, that feeling stays.
“If I had the opportunity, I would play in any league; go anywhere,” he mentioned. “If any major league team wants an old man, I’m available!”
