Skip to main content

Bartolo Colon’s back was hurting so he told the Nats he wasn’t swinging

Bartolo Colon had no plans to hit another home run on Monday night. 

Get breaking news and SI’s biggest stories instantly. Download the new Sports Illustrated app (iOS or Android) and personalize your experience by following your favorite teams and SI writers.

Bartolo Colon had no plans to hit another home run on Monday night. 

One day before he turned 43, Colon was dealing with an issue typical of a guy his age. His back was acting up, so he decided he better not risk anything at the plate with one of his signature high-effort swings.

“I thought it wasn’t worth it to swing,” Colon said, according to the New York Post. “I swing at the balls pretty hard and I thought, ‘Not worth making my back worse,’ so I told their catcher from the beginning, ‘Just throw it right down the middle, [I’m] not swinging.’”

Follow Extra Mustard on Facebook

Follow

Image placeholder title

The back didn’t affect Bart on the mound, though. He allowed just one run on five hits in seven innings and got his fourth win of the season. 

- Dan Gartland