New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon connects for first home run after 19 years in MLB

BARTOLO Colon often swings so hard when batting that his helmet falls off. But the portly pitcher had the last laugh when he connected for his first home run.

Bartolo Colon connects with his first homer after 19 years in the MLB.

NEW York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon has hit his first career home run, a shot that came less than three weeks before his 43rd birthday.

Colon connected for a two-run homer to left-field in the second inning off San Diego’s James Shields.

Bartolo Colon connects with his first homer after 19 years in the MLB.

Colon watched the ball all the way, and didn’t toss his bat until he was well over halfway to first base. The portly pitcher’s trot around the bases took about 30 seconds.

When he returned to the dugout, his teammates were hiding in the tunnel before coming out to mob him.

Colon hasn’t had to worry about his hitting. He won the 2005 AL Cy Young Award while with the Los Angeles Angels, and is a three-time All-Star.

Before his home run, he was a career .089 hitter in 225 at-bats, striking out 119 times. He usually swings hard and his helmet often falls off in the process, frequently drawing cheers and laughs from fans at home and on the road.

At 42 years, 349 days, Colon is the second-oldest Mets player to homer. Julio Franco homered on May 4, 2007, when he was 48 years, 254 days old.

Colon’s major league debut was April 4, 1997, in a no-decision for Cleveland against the Angels. Franco was his teammate.

Originally published as New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon connects for first home run after 19 years in MLB