Before Bartolo Colon got injured on June 11th, Yankee fans were counting their blessings to have Bartolo Colon as a starter in 2011. The former CY young award winner, Colon was 3-3 with a 3.26 ERA through the month of May replacing Phil Hughes in the rotation. On May 30, Colon pitched his first complete game shut out in five years giving up only four hits in that game.
Could this sudden resurgence of a declining pitcher be because of his controversial stem cell treatment this off season? Currently being investigated by MLB, Colon received surgery to repair damage done to his rotator cuff, ligaments and tendons. Scientists believe that if they can harness stem cells in healing, they can revolutionize medicine. It may take years for scientists to gather enough evidence to prove whether or not stem cell therapy works. But, some people don’t want to wait for confirmation. There are clinics all over the world that are providing the service for willing patients, upwards of 50,000 for the treatment.
So far, the only proven form of stem cell therapy is bone marrow transplantation. But, if the treatment is available out there, people will surely be happy to make themselves guinea pigs with hope that the treatment could potentially save their life.
Bartolo Colon could be back on the mound as early as Saturday, when the Yanks face the Mets in the Subway series. Eyes will be on him for the second half of the year. For Yankee fans, fingers will be crossed that the treatment has worked and just maybe he found the Fountain of Youth.
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