Bartolo Colon once drove his tricked-out car onto the field before a Minor League rehab start
While we still wait to see if Bartolo Colon has found a team to pitch for in 2019 -- which would be his 22nd MLB season -- we have been lucky enough to learn of yet another tremendous story from Colon's remarkable career, courtesy of Kevin Jepsen:
Bartolo Col¨®n = ABSOLUTE LEGEND pic.twitter.com/R6hdWqypNH
— Intentional Talk (@IntentionalTalk) March 6, 2019
In 2006, Jepsen was the 21-year-old closer on the Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League when a certain big league pitcher needed a rehab start in the Minors. This wasn't just any big leaguer -- it was Colon, fresh off a 2005 season in which he won the AL Cy Young Award. But 2006 wasn't quite as friendly to Colon, who dealt with a myriad of injuries that necessitated several Minor League rehab appearances, including this now-famous one with Rancho Cucamonga.
This hilarious tale also begs the question: Was Bartolo trying to bring back the bullpen cart a whole decade-plus before it made its triumphant return in 2018? Sure, such a vehicle is usually reserved for relievers, rather than the game's starting pitcher arriving a bit late. But he clearly had the same idea. And honestly, we should never doubt Bartolo anymore.
Let's check on Bartolo Colon pic.twitter.com/alqR3diamF
— Matt Monagan (@MattMono11) February 28, 2019
Never.