Bartolo Colon has been adamant that his career is not over. He still wants to return to the majors, specifically with the New York Mets, for a final season. It does not matter that he will turn 49 years old this year, or that his last season in the majors came in 2018 – Colon is timeless.
He is also set to make that return to the Mets, although not in the way that he may have hoped. Colon will reportedly be part of the team’s Old Timer’s Day set for August 27, joining the likes of Yoenis Cespedes, Mookie Wilson, and Keith Hernandez.
Bartolo Colon getting chance to return to New York Mets
Depending on the state of the rotation at that point, Colon could be tasked with getting the start. The Mets did have a plethora of injuries to their rotation last year and Jacob deGrom is already injured. If those injuries continue to pile up, it may not be entirely outside the realm of possibility that Colon would be needed to take the ball.
Although Colon has not been in the majors since his 2018 season with the Rangers, he has remained active. He spent the 2021 season in the Mexican League, producing a respectable 4.55 ERA and a 1.304 WHiP over his 61.1 innings, striking out 40 batters with just ten walks. Even if he is not the pitcher he once was, it is possible that he could fill a role in the back of the rotation.
That possibility, no matter how remote, makes Colon’s participation a bit questionable. He will be there provided that he is not an active player in the majors. Considering the state of pitching around the game, that is not entirely unreasonable.
Bartolo Colon will have the chance to wear a New York Mets uniform one more time. He is set to be a part of their Old Timer’s Day this year.