Mets’ Bartolo Colon hit in thumb by comebacker

The man whose sharp instincts, raw power, and batting helmet falling off of his head has charmed the majority of baseball’s fans, regardless of their allegiances. Few players have the magnetism to bring everyone together in this way, so to see Bartolo Colon leave the field last night so early created very distressful circumstances.

Colon has a history of being able to pitch through injuries, so when he told manager Terry Collins that he didn’t think he could throw, the skipper assumed the worst. The ailment is being classified as a “bruised thumb,” at the moment, with the prognosis being, prior to the results of an x-ray, that Colon at least avoided a fracture. Having never suffered an injury to his thumb before, Colon himself was concerned as well.

The Mets at this point are probably numb to watching key players leave the field; already listing David Wright, Travis d’Arnaud, Lucas Duda, and Juan Lagares among their casualties. Further, Zack Wheeler has been rehabbing his way back from Tommy John surgery, and may have suffered another setback on his already-15 month recovery. A loss of Colon would be... best not to think about until we have official word. In case they need him to make a start, the Mets kept Logan Verrett from pitching at Triple-A Las Vegas on Tuesday night.

Colon has made 14 starts this season, forming a 3.00 ERA with 56 SO and 13 BB through 81.0 IP while opponents have been hitting .269 off of him. In the last month, his ERA is 1.91 through six starts and 33 IP.

The 43-year-old’s next start was to come against the Braves this Sunday. Atlanta, the worst team in the National League, recently put a cherry on top of the defending league champs’ recent horrendous backslide by sweeping them out of their own stadium.