In a rough season for the Texas Rangers, one fan favorite is still defying the odds and performing well.
When the Texas Rangers signed Bartolo Colon to a minor league contract with an invitation to Spring Training, it was easy to dismiss the move. Colon had struggled during the 2017 campaign, posting a 7-14 record, along with a 6.48 ERA and a 1.587 WHiP between the Braves and Twins. At 44 years old to end the season, one had to wonder what Colon had left.
As it turned out, he was still capable of being a solid contributor at the major league level. Colon has posted a 3.29 ERA and a 0.835 WHiP, striking out 25 batters in his 38.1 innings. he has gotten back to being a strike throwing machine, with just three walks. As it turns out, he has even been the best player on the Rangers, at least in one aspect.
Bartolo Colon is the current Wins Above Replacement leader of the 2018 Texas Rangers.
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) May 6, 2018
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Colon has been one of the few bright spots for a struggling Rangers team. They had postseason aspirations heading into 2018, but have failed to perform out of the gates. The Rangers currently sit at 13-23, nine games out of first place, the only team in the division below .500. With the hot starts from the Astros and Angels, those playoff hopes are dwindling by the day.
Meanwhile, as Colon continues to pitch well, he may provide some solid return on investment. He was one of the Rangers reclamation projects signed this offseason, along with Doug Fister and Tim Lincecum. While Fister has been solid, Lincecum has yet to actually pitch at the major league level this season. At least one of those contracts has already provided the Rangers far more value than they could have expected.
This early start also bodes well for Colon and his quest to become the all time winningest pitcher from Latin America. He is just four wins away from breaking the record set by Dennis Martinez, a mark that Colon holds in high regard. If he continues to turn back the clock, and be that strike throwing machine, he could well get there.
Next: Beltre tried to pull a fast one
It is still early in the season, but right now, Bartolo Colon has been the best player on the Texas Rangers. If the fan favorite can keep up this performance, he may well be back in the coming years as well.