Darron Cummings/AP

Bartolo Colon won the American League Cy Young Award in 2005, and less than five years later, it appeared his career was over after elbow ligament and rotator cuff problems.

In April 2010, however, Colon underwent a novel treatment in the Dominican Republic in which fat and bone-marrow stem cells were taken from him and then injected into his shoulder and elbow.

Colon, thought to be done, signed a minor-league deal with the Yankees last year, opened the season in the bullpen, and then joined the rotation the third week of April after an injury to Phil Hughes. He went 8-10 with a 4.00 ERA and was particularly effective in the first half, with a 3.20 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 15 games, 12 starts.

The controversial procedure worked.

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