F³: Player Spotlight: Feel Good Edition

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In a world ever-increasing with “keyboard warriors” spewing hate directed at top notch athletes for, what I can only assume is the result of not acknowledging a lack of their own self-confidence, I deem Bartolo Colon un-hateable. I will be the first to admit I was skeptical of the 1-Year, 12.5 Million contract my beloved, rebuilding Braves, offered Colon last November. Watching him compete in his “Homecoming” 2017 debut Wednesday night in New York and feeling what I felt, I will also admit that I was wrong.

At first glance, the 5’11”, 285lb 43-year old right-hander is far from aesthetic, but for those who look past physical attributes and measure beauty by the way someone makes you feel, “Big Sexy” is off the charts. Large and in charge, young Bart grew up working 12-hour days in the bean fields and fruit grove in his native country, the Dominican Republic. Baseball was a family affair, and he got his father’s love for the game. His big break came from exposure in 1989 but didn’t resonate until he was eventually signed by the Indians in 1993. Fun Fact: Cleveland thought he was 18 at the time, he was actually 20.

Wednesday’s start was 20 years and 1 day from his Major League debut. It also made the Braves the 10th team Colon has represented. He has won a Cy Young Award, been a 4x All-Star, and was the winningest pitcher in the AL in 2005. While the stats are well above average, I’m most impressed by the reactions he warrants. Be it the standing ovation on the road this week during player introductions or even the suggestion of selecting him for the Home Run Derby last year after his 1st career Home Run at the ripe age of 42, there is a genuine sense of respect for this guy and it’s well deserved.

I would never trade my life with anyone and jealousy is one shade of green I refuse to wear, but Bartolo pleads a very solid case. A guy that does what he loves with such an undeniable passion is admirable if even for just a day but 20+ years with the drive of day 1, leaves me at a loss for words. In an opening week with no shortage of highlights, my obvious biased opinion says this was the best. Tip of the cap to you, sir. Keep on keepin’ on “Big Sexy!”

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