Bartolo Colon's Pitching Prowess: What's His Secret?

Despite his age, Bartolo Colon is still pitching well into his 40s. With a long and storied career, Colon has had his ups and downs, but his ability to keep pitching at a high level is impressive. With a unique style, feel for the game, and a competitive spirit, Colon has defied expectations and continues to be a successful pitcher.

Bartolo Colon's pitching style

In the early years of his career, Bartolo Colon was a very different pitcher to the one we saw in his later years. In his prime, Colon was a power pitcher, capable of throwing a fastball in the upper 90s and even touching 100 mph. However, as he got older and injuries took their toll, Colon had to adapt his pitching style. By the time he joined the Oakland Athletics in 2013, he had transformed himself into a command pitcher, relying on precision and control rather than raw speed.

Colon's pitching arsenal included a sinker, four-seam fastball, slider, and changeup. His sinker was notably slow, but he was able to locate it well and keep batters off balance. His four-seam fastball had below-average velocity for a power pitcher, sitting in the low 90s. The slider was a bit slower than average but had good movement, and he used it to generate fly balls. Colon's changeup also had a sink to it, and he used it to keep hitters guessing.

Colon's longevity and ability to adapt his pitching style as he aged are a testament to his skill and intelligence as a pitcher. He may not have had the raw stuff of an ace, but his command and competitiveness kept him in the game long after many of his contemporaries had retired.

His ability to keep hitters off balance

One of the reasons for Bartolo Colon's success is his ability to keep hitters off balance. Colon is a master at mixing up his pitches, throwing a variety of fastballs, including four-seamers and two-seamers, as well as sliders and changeups. This keeps hitters guessing and makes it difficult for them to predict what pitch is coming next.

Colon's approach is unusual, as he relies heavily on his fastball, throwing it more than 80% of the time. This strategy might seem predictable, but Colon's ability to locate his fastball with precision makes it highly effective. He can throw his fastball to different locations, changing the speed and movement, which keeps hitters off balance.

Colon's fastball has good velocity, sitting in the 80s and occasionally touching 90 mph. While this might not be as fast as some other pitchers, Colon's command and ability to locate his pitches make up for it. He can paint the corners and hit his spots consistently, making it hard for hitters to get a good swing on the ball.

In addition to his fastball, Colon also mixes in off-speed pitches like sliders and changeups, especially against left-handed hitters. These pitches add another layer of unpredictability and keep hitters guessing. By varying the speed and movement of his pitches, Colon keeps hitters off balance and makes it difficult for them to time their swings.

Colon's ability to locate his pitches is exceptional. He has excellent control and can spot his pitches precisely where he wants them. This allows him to work the edges of the plate and expand the strike zone, further confusing hitters and making it hard for them to make solid contact.

Colon's unique approach and mastery of pitch location have allowed him to succeed even as he has gotten older. He understands how to sequence his pitches and keep hitters off balance, relying on movement and location rather than pure speed. This has helped him extend his career and continue to be effective even as his fastball velocity has decreased.

His longevity in the game

Bartolo Colon's career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 21 years, from his debut in 1997 to his final season in 2018. During this time, he played for 11 different MLB teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Montreal Expos, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, and Texas Rangers.

Colon's longevity in the game can be attributed to several factors, including his exceptional ability, work ethic, and adaptability. He was known for his control pitching, with a strong ability to spot pitches accurately. This meant that while he gave up more hits, he also kept the number of walks to a minimum.

Colon also demonstrated an impressive ability to adapt his approach as he aged. In his prime, he was known for his excellent velocity, throwing his four-seam fastball in the mid-90s and occasionally touching 100 mph. However, later in his career, he adjusted his strategy and relied more on a combination of two types of fastballs – a four-seamer and a two-seamer – which he commanded with precision. This allowed him to maintain his effectiveness even as his speed declined.

In addition to his pitching prowess, Colon's work ethic and dedication to his craft contributed to his longevity. He frequently credits his childhood job, where he worked long days harvesting coffee beans and fruit, for developing his strength and work discipline. This work ethic stayed with him throughout his career, as he continuously worked to refine his skills and remain competitive.

Furthermore, Colon's longevity can also be attributed to his resilience and ability to overcome injuries. He experienced several significant injuries throughout his career, including issues with his right shoulder, elbow, and hamstring. However, he consistently worked his way back from these setbacks and even underwent innovative stem cell surgery to repair his damaged shoulder tissues in 2010.

Colon's impact extended beyond the baseball diamond as well. He was actively involved in charity work in his native Dominican Republic and provided funds for the construction of an amateur baseball stadium in his hometown of Altamira. Additionally, he was known for his lighthearted personality and unique celebrations, such as "Big Sexy Night" with the Minnesota Twins, which celebrated his larger-than-life presence in the game.

His pitching speed

Bartolo Colon's pitching speed is a key factor in his success as a pitcher. In his early career, Colon was known for his excellent velocity, throwing fastballs in the mid-90s mph range and occasionally reaching 100 mph. This speed advantage allowed him to dominate hitters and record many strikeouts.

However, as he aged, Colon adapted his pitching style. In his later career, his four-seam fastball sat at 86-91 mph, and he paired it with a two-seam fastball at 84-88 mph. While the speed of his pitches had decreased, Colon developed exceptional control and precision, becoming known as a "control pitcher". He could spot pitches at any location, keeping the number of walks to a minimum. Colon's ability to locate his pitches, along with his varying speeds and movement, kept hitters guessing and off-balance.

Colon's repertoire also included a changeup and a slider, which he used effectively against left-handed and right-handed hitters, respectively. He was not a one-pitch pitcher and had a variety of pitches in his arsenal to keep batters guessing.

Colon's pitching speed, combined with his control and repertoire of pitches, contributed to his long and successful career as a pitcher in Major League Baseball.

His pitching accuracy

Bartolo Colon's pitching accuracy is a result of his exceptional ability to spot pitches at any location. This control has kept the number of walks he allows to a minimum but has also led to more hits as he aims for the strike zone.

Colon's accuracy is also due to his mastery of two types of fastballs: the four-seamer and the two-seamer. He throws a lot of fastballs, and while he does have other pitches in his arsenal, they are not central to his game. His fastball averages in the 80s, approaching his rate of contact allowed.

Colon's command of his two fastballs is exceptional. He can locate the four-seamer and the two-seamer at different spots in the strike zone, keeping batters guessing. The subtle differences between the two types of fastballs—with the four-seamer being almost three miles per hour faster than the two-seamer—give Colon a genuine repertoire of pitches to work with.

Colon's accuracy is further enhanced by his ability to work both horizontally and vertically within the strike zone. He can locate his fastballs up and away, down and away, down and in, or up and in. This ability to change the eye level of the batter and move the ball around the zone makes him extremely difficult to hit, even though his fastball speed is relatively low compared to other pitchers.

Colon's accuracy and control are also evident in his ability to throw strikes consistently. He has had several long streaks of throwing strikes, including a career-high 31.0 innings in 2016 without allowing a walk. This control has resulted in a low walk rate throughout his career, and he has had several seasons where he has averaged less than two walks per nine innings.

In addition to his pinpoint accuracy, Colon is also able to mix in other pitches, such as sliders and changeups, to keep batters off balance. He is not a one-pitch pitcher and can effectively use his secondary pitches to set up his fastballs.

Colon's pitching accuracy and control are key factors in his success as a pitcher, allowing him to compensate for a relatively low fastball speed and remain effective even into his 40s.

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