5 best Bartolo moments with Mets
The 43-year-old wonder Bartolo Colon - otherwise known as Big Sexy - is leaving the Big Apple after two memorable seasons to join the rebuilding Atlanta Braves on a reported one-year, $12.5-million contract.
The ageless wonder, who's pitched close to 3,000 innings in his career, will be missed in the New York Mets' rotation and by a ton of fans, but his eventful stint with the team will live on forever. Here are the five best moments of Big Sexy's time with the Mets:
The belly shake
You don't get the nickname without some extra body fat, and that is exactly what Colon put on display after a scoreless start against the Braves in 2014. Celebrating the best way he knows how, Colon's belly jiggle was front and center in the dugout.
Legging out an infield single
A handful of Colon's best moments came not as a pitcher, but when he stepped up to the plate. That was proven after the big man beat out an infield single against the Philadelphia Phillies, showing off some impressive foot speed in the process.
Behind-the-back flip
Arguably the most impressive defensive play of Colon's career came against the Miami Marlins in 2015, when Big Sexy made a tough play look easy, going behind-the-back for the unlikely out at first base. Colon may never win a Gold Glove, but this play is as slick as it gets.
First career walk
Earlier this season, Colon had the most plate appearances without a walk, but that all changed against Arizona Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray, who enters the record books as the first pitcher ever to issue a walk to the big man. In 276 career plate appearances, Colon can finally say he was walked at least once.
Bartolo's first ever bomb
It's not every day a 42-year-old hits a home run. It's even more unlikely to witness a 42-year-old starting pitcher hit one, but that is exactly what happened this season. Big Sexy became the oldest player in league history to go deep for the first time, cranking a two-run shot off starter James Shields after 19 homerless seasons in the big leagues. The big fly will almost certainly go down as his best moment ever.
(Video courtesy: MLB.com)