NEW YORK -- Bartolo Colon's season ended with more than 15 wins and crossing the 200-inning threshold. The 40-year-old right-hander also became a U.S. citizen, according to Katie Tichacek, a public affairs officer at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The ceremony with Colon and his wife Paula took place on Saturday, the day before Colon won the season finale at Citi Field.

The event happened so quietly, not even Mets officials were aware.

The Dominican-born Colon lives in Clifton, New Jersey.

More than 770,000 people became naturalized U.S. citizens last year. New York and New Jersey rank as two of the leading five states for naturalizations.

There are eight requirements for citizenship (reprinted below directly from the U.S. government fact sheet):

• Be at least 18 years of age;

• Be a lawful permanent resident (green card holder);

• Have resided in the United States as a lawful permanent resident for at least five years;

• Have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months;

• Be a person of good moral character;

• Be able to speak, read, write and understand the English language;

• Have knowledge of U.S. government and history; and

• Be willing and able to take the Oath of Allegiance.