He looks out of place, at least at first. Wearing a Mets uniform that grants no slimming effect to his block of a body, he could easily be mistaken for an overinvested fan who has wandered past assorted “Authorized Personnel Only” signs at Citi Field, onto the outfield grass.

But this is the night’s starting pitcher, Bartolo Colon. Forty-two years old, it is believed. Two hundred eighty-five pounds, it is believed — a full 100 pounds heavier than when he made his major league debut in 1997. An Ernest Borgnine face, by way of the Dominican Republic. The mere sight of him stirs the “if he can, I can” fantasies of Sunday softball heroes everywhere.

Colon is the second-oldest active player in the majors. He has collected eight teams’ uniforms, 213 career wins, a Cy Young Award and a steroid-related suspension. In an often frustrating Mets season, this Everyman has been a joyful diversion, with a 9-7 record that includes 48⅓ innings without a walk, a franchise record worthy of pause.

And yet his Fred Flintstone body type can make his successes seem accidental, almost comical. A city chuckles when his helmet flies off as he swings his bat, and shakes its head in disbelief when he puts on another display of pinpoint accuracy with pitches that rarely top 92 miles an hour — as if he’s gotten lucky, again.