New York Mets: Jacob deGrom is a future Mets Hall of Famer

New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom is on the path to a Hall of Fame career. Of course, he’ll have to settle for landing in the Mets’ personal Hall of Fame instead of Cooperstown.

The New York Mets have had their share of blue chip pitching prospects. Some have panned out quite well, and some never reached their potential.

Generation K was the last trio destined for Mets greatness. Bill Pulsipher, Paul Wilson, and Jason Isringhausen were to become aces for years to come. Instead, Isringhausen became a decent closer elsewhere for a while, and Pulsipher and Wilson became journeymen.

The current version of Generation K is still with the Mets. Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey, and Noah Syndergaard were the Mets aces for the next decade. While Syndergaard has fulfilled his potential when healthy, Wheeler and Harvey hasn’t sustained long-term success.

One name that was never mentioned in the top prospect category was Jacob deGrom. He came to the Mets as an afterthought, having Tommy John surgery in the minors and never posting dominant numbers. Instead, I don’t know where the Mets would be with deGrom as their bonafide ace.

He has been consistently dominant since his call-up. deGrom has also been able to stay healthy and was the only starting pitcher in 2017 to make every start for the Mets. An ace in every way, deGrom stops losing streaks and dominates hitters with an explosive fastball.

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As Gary Cohen, the play by play announcer on TV for the Mets loves to point out, deGrom has given up one run or less in almost 40% of his career starts. At that pace, the Mets Hall of Fame will be calling when his career comes to an end.

At 29 and currently in his fifth season, there’s a lot of starts left in his career to continue his dominance. If deGrom can stay healthy for another decade, what’s to stop him from earning permanent enshrinement at Citi Field?

It really is an education to watch him pitch. High intensity, yet maturity and composure is the perfect combination of this 29-year-old stud. On a better team, deGrom would have had stronger consideration for the Cy Young award last season.

deGrom is already off to a Cy Young start to the 2018 season and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down. He is a bulldog and a fighter. One of the best qualities is when his best stuff alludes him the ability to still get hitters out and grind through innings is present.

There had been much debate last season whether the Mets should trade deGrom to acquire top-notch pitching for the future. The fans had much to say on this. Due to his age and getting closer to free agency, questions still remain.

Sandy Alderson made it clear that deGrom was going nowhere, and that is the right decision. The Mets need to initiate contract extension talks with him, as a pitcher of his durability, dominance, and moxie bring unwritten value to the team.

With Noah Syndergaard healthy and dominant again, the Mets can have the best one-two punch since Tom Seaver and Jerry Koosman. Syndergaard and deGrom could actually be even more dominant with their high 90s fastballs with Noah hitting 101.

Next: Is 2018 World Series or bust for the Mets?

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Just keep up the good work, Jacob, and maybe you can even get your number retired, too.

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