Diamondbacks hand Bartolo Colon his first career walk in his 500th game
Aug 15, 2016, 8:35 PM | Updated: 10:56 pm
Stroll to first base big man. It'll never get bigger or sexier than this...#Mets #BartoloColon pic.twitter.com/BFYKDJxiwj
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) August 16, 2016
New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon, at 42 years young, made front-page news with his first career home run in May, which helped him pass former Diamondbacks ace Randy Johnson as the oldest player in MLB history to tally his first dinger.
In Colon’s visit to Chase Field on Monday, history was made again.
Colon, who is now 43, recorded his first career walk in the fourth inning when a seven-pitch at-bat against D-backs pitcher Robbie Ray ended with a full count and, finally, a ball. Taking first base, Colon’s savvy eye would help advance Mets teammate Jose Reyes to second, setting him up to score on a Travis d’Arnaud RBI that pulled New York within 4-2.
The walk came in Colon’s 500th game and his 282nd plate appearance.
“That surprised me as well,” Colon said through translation after the game. “I don’t know why that pitcher didn’t strike me out. He could’ve. I couldn’t really do much more at that point. My wrist has been bothering me a little bit.”
That, too, was historic. It’s the most plate appearances for a player that didn’t include one walk.
Bartolo Colon fouled off a 96.4 MPH fastball with 2 strikes en route to his first career walk… Can't say he didn't earn it.
— Daren Willman (@darenw) August 16, 2016
Colon was busy early on, reaching on an error with his first at-bat. He would find his way to third but from there couldn’t reach home. He apparently is aware he didn’t have the speed to tag up and score on a pop-fly to center.
When does Bartolo Colon not walk
— uɐɯssnS ʇʇɐW (@suss2hyphens) August 16, 2016
There could have been more history in the making as the D-backs clung to their lead Monday.
Colon would have became the 18th pitcher in history to beat all 30 MLB teams with a win over Arizona, but the D-backs prevailed 10-6.
At age 43, after 19 seasons and 281 plate appearances, Bartolo Colon draws his first career walk. pic.twitter.com/rxoynjwSkA
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) August 16, 2016
