Getty Image / Jay Biggerstaff
Jacob DeGrom is arguably the most dominant pitcher of the last 100 years. The former Met has compiled numbers that put him among the game’s all-time best in many statistical categories.
Among starting pitchers, his career ERA of 2.52 ranks 2nd in the last 80 years, only behind the other pitcher in DeGrom’s generation to have a legit claim as the best pitcher ever, Clayton Kershaw. He’s 2nd in the modern era in K/9, and WHIP as well. If that isn’t enough to convince you of the dominance of Jacob DeGrom, just watch him pitch. He is an absolute cyborg, with a fastball he can run up to 102mph, a wipe-out slider that may be the best righty slider in baseball history, and a change-up and curveball that both are among the league’s best, but his fastball and slider are so good he rarely throws them.
Jacob deGrom, 99mph Fastball and 92mph Slider, Overlay.
Yes, his mechanics are overlaid.
And, yes he might be a robot. 😳 pic.twitter.com/A3L5oHzqLo— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 18, 2023
His 2021 season was the greatest half-season of pitching in the history of Major League Baseball. DeGrom pitched to a 1.08 ERA in 92 innings over 15 starts. His WHIP was 0.554, and his ERA+, a measure of overall pitching effectiveness relative to their peers, with the average each season always being 100, was an astounding 373. The best mark besides that in MLB history for a starter is 291 by Pedro Martinez. An All-Star level is around 130.
But, Jacob DeGrom was shut down in July of that year with an injury, and didn’t return to the Mets until after the All Star Break in 2022. He pitched well, and left the Mets in free agency to sign a megadeal with the pitching-starved Texas Rangers. He struggled in his first start of the year, but has been lights-out sense, giving up just three earned runs in 17 innings since, with 25 strikeouts. On Monday, he was throwing a no-hitter after four innings against the Kansas City Royals, but he left the start early with a wrist injury.
Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom was removed from tonight's start in Kansas City as a precaution with right wrist soreness. He will continue to be evaluated.
— Texas Rangers PR (@TXRangersPR) April 18, 2023
Mets fans have seen this song and dance before. It’s a shame, too, because when he pitches, he is the greatest arm any of us have ever seen, and may ever see.