Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon draws first walk in 19 seasons
New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon has been making history all year.
On Monday, Colon drew the first walk of his professional career against Arizona Diamondbacks lefthander Robbie Ray. The walk came in Colon's 282nd career plate appearance; he has been in the major leagues for 19 seasons.
According to ESPN, Colon holds the highest number of plate appearance without a walk in MLB history.
In the fourth inning of New York's 10–6 loss to Arizona, Colon got to a full count against Ray before drawing the walk on the seventh pitch of the at-bat when Ray threw a fastball high and out of the strike zone.
"I was surprised, too," Colon said. "The pitcher didn't strike me out because he didn't want to. I couldn't make a swing because of my hand. My (left) wrist has been bothering me for a long time."
Colon (10–7) allowed nine hits and five runs in four innings, walking two and striking out one.
In May, Colon became the oldest player to hit his first major league home run, taking San Diego Padres pitcher James Shields deep to leftfield, leaving his teammates in hysterics, especially after his 30-second home run trot.
– Scooby Axson
