Bartolo Colón

Bartolo Colón (born May 24 1973 in Altamira, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic) is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who has played for the Cleveland Indians (1997-2002), Montreal Expos (2002), Chicago White Sox (2003) and Anaheim Angels & Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (2004-present). He bats and throws right handed.

Biography

A big prospect coming from the Dominican Republic, Colón was signed by the Cleveland Indians as a free agent in 1993 and made his major league debut on April 4, 1997.

Related Topics:
Free agent - 1993 - April 4 - 1997

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In his first season, Colón did not quite live up to his expectations, going 4-7 with a 5.65 ERA. He would live up to those expectations soon after. In his real breakthrough 1999 season, one year after helping his Indians to the 1998 American League Championship Series, even in a lost cause against the Yankees, Colón finished 18-5, pitching over 200 innings with 161 strikeouts and a 3.95 ERA in innings pitched.

Related Topics:
ERA - 1999 - 1998 American League Championship Series - Yankees - Innings - Strikeouts

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In 2000, Colón eclipsed his strikeouts number by 51, ending with 212, but at the same time he posted a career-high 98 walks. It was clear he was developing as a pitcher, but he had to learn to get his control back. He did just that, finishing the 2002 season with just 70 walks in 233 innings. However, he also finished the year on a different city. It was his best season to date, but it came in both Cleveland and Montreal. He was sent to the Expos in the midseason in the same trade that brought Lee Stevens, Brandon Phillips and Cliff Lee to the Indians. Colón finished with a combined 20-8 record and a a 2.93 ERA, including only 76 earned runs, three shutouts, and eight complete games. After his good numbers, every team in major leagues wanted him, but only a few were willing to bid enough for him. Before the 2003 season, Colón was traded to the Chicago White Sox. He finished with a 15-13 record. A free agent after the season, he signed with the Anaheim Angels. Colón won 18 games with Anaheim in 2004. In addition to being considered one of the best right-handed starters in the American League, his 2005 salary with the Angels is $11,000,000.

Related Topics:
2000 - Walks - 2002 - Cleveland - Montreal - Lee Stevens - Brandon Phillips - Cliff Lee - Shutout - Complete games - 2003 - 2004 - American League - 2005

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