Bartolo Colon (or Bartolo Colón) (born May 24 1973 in Altamira, Dominican Republic) is a right handed starting pitcher currently playing for the Anaheim Angels, after bouncing around on a few teams. Before 2002, he had played his entire career with the Cleveland Indians, starting in 1997.

Biography

He made his debut on April 4 1997 with the Indians after signing with them as an amateur free agent in 1993. He was considered a big prospect from the Dominican Republic.

In his first season as a major leaguer, he 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 season of 1999, one year after helping his Indians to the 1998 ALCS where they lost to the Yankees, he went a superb 18-5, pitching over 200 innings with a 3.95 ERA, and 161 strikeouts on the year. The next year, he eclipsed that strikout number by 51, ending the 2000 season with 212 strikeouts, but 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 pitched. However, he also finished the season on a different team. It was his best season to date, but it came in both Cleveland and Montreal. He was traded to the Expos on July 27 of that year with another player, for Lee Stevens , Brandon Phillips , and Cliff Lee. His full stats of 2002 were most impressive. He went 20-8 with a 2.93 ERA, giving up only 76 earned runs and completing 8 games, 3 of them shutouts. His stats for the season were incredible, and every team in major leagues wanted him, but only a few were willing to bid enough for him. After being traded again to the Chicago White Sox, he was granted free agency and signed with the Anaheim Angels.

His current salary with the Angels is 11 million per year, and he is considered one of the best pitchers in the American League. Many say he could be a future hall-of-famer.

Career Statistics

After winning his first start of 2005 against the Texas Rangers, he is 119-74 in his career. He has started 246 games, completing 28. He has 1283 strikeouts in 1603.2 innings pitched, and has an all-time 4.00 ERA.

He has given up 761 runs, 186 home runs, and 600 walks, and holds batters to a overall .254 batting average.

Batting

His breif tenure with the Expos in the National League gave him 39 at bats. Other than that, interleague play has forced him to bat 37 times. He is 9 for 76 in his career as a hitter, a .118 batting average. He never had an extra base hit, but has 4 RBI's. He has struck out in 44 of his 76 at bats. Amazingly, he has never walked.

Info

• Made the AL all-star team in 1998
• Won his only start of the 1998 ALCS giving up only 1 run and 4 hits in a complete game