Bartolo Colon Injury: Updates on Mets Pitcher's Thumb and Return

New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon left his start on June 21 against the Kansas City Royals in the first inning after being hit in the hand by a comeback line drive. He was diagnosed with a right thumb injury, but X-rays were negative, and he would not miss any additional starts. 

Continue for updates.

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Colon Active vs. Braves  

Sunday, June 26

The Mets announced Colon will make his scheduled start on Sunday against Atlanta. 

Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reported on June 22 that "Colon's swelling has mostly subsided." 

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Colon Injury Details Revealed 

Tuesday, June 21

The Mets announced Colon left with a right thumb contusion, per DiComo, who added the X-rays showed nothing was broken. 

Royals second baseman Whit Merrifield hit the ball up the middle on Colon's fourth pitch, sending it caroming off the Mets starter and toward second base.

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Colon Remains Reliable Starter for Mets

Colon, 43, is 6-3 with a 3.00 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP and 56 strikeouts this season. He's given the team a nice veteran option at the back end of its rotation behind Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and Steven Matz.

It wouldn't be a huge loss for the Mets if he were forced to miss time as the team has one of the best rotations in the majors and depth to spare, but Colon's proved to be a solid innings-eater late in his career. His longevity has been something of a surprise, though not to his teammates who see him work every day.

“People make assumptions, but if you’re around Bartolo, you see how he prepares,” David Wright told John Harper of the New York Daily News in February. "I’d bet a significant amount of money that he’s the most flexible guy on the team. I see him prepare on the days when he’s pitching. He’s got a stretching routine second to none.”

Mets fans must be happy this was just a minor injury and that Colon won't miss time.

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