Following his first career home run over the weekend, New York Mets starting pitcher Bartolo Colon has been the talk of the baseball world.
How in the world could Colon luck into a homer? After all, the 42-year-old pitcher is hitting a cool .092 in his extensive 20-year career in the Majors.
Known more for his helmet flying off his head after whiffing at pitches, Colon’s success at the plate received a pretty awesome mashup on social media:
Yes, that’s the goofy Colon starring in “The Natural,” one of the greatest sports movies ever made. There could be an argument made that Colon’s acting was much better than that of Robert Redford in the Hollywood hit.
Then again, he actually hit the homer … there was no real acting involved.
Colon’s first career homer came against San Diego Padres pitcher James Shields.
And yes, it was a frozen rope.
Considering he hit it out of the pitcher-friendly Petco Park, the accomplishment is that much greater.
Take a bow Bartolo, you definitely deserve it. Just don’t take as long to do it as it took you to round the bases following the dinger.