3 best Jacob deGrom memories as a New York Met

Former New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom has signed a long-term with the Texas Rangers. While the move and the length of the contract were both surprising, deGrom has earned the choice to play where he chooses.

deGrom is on the Mount Rushmore of Mets pitching icons. His place in Mets history is rightfully alongside Tom Seaver, Doc Gooden, and Jerry Koosman. Over nine seasons, deGrom made 209 starts for the Mets, pitching 1,326 innings, striking out 1,607 batters, posting an ERA of 2.52, a WHIP of 1.00, and a K/BB of 5.3.

The righty has had so many great moments and memories for this franchise. Let’s look at some of the best deGrom memories, starting with a couple of honorable mentions that just missed the top three.

Jacob deGrom memories honorable mention: 2015 NLDS Game 5

deGrom did not have his best stuff on October 15th, 2015, but he found a way to limit the Dodgers to just two runs over six innings.

This was one of the classic deGrom starts where he had to find a way to get outs. He probably had his “D” level stuff that night, yet he held one of the best offenses in baseball to six hits and still managed to strike out seven batters. There were baserunners on every inning except the sixth, yet a couple of bloop singles in the first were the only runs deGrom allowed.

Jacob deGrom memories honorable mention: Cincinnati's All-Star game

“Hi, I’m Jacob deGrom and I have the chance with my stuff to just dominate baseball for years to come.”

Whenever I think of deGrom, this line from Joe Buck goes through my head. Such a simple observation from Buck, yet it still holds true today. It took deGrom just 10 pitches to strike out the side. The only pitch that prevented an immaculate inning was a ball slightly outside to Jason Kipnis. This moment was Jake’s introduction to stardom, and he never looked back.

Jacob deGrom memories #3: 8 K’s to start the day

This was the moment deGrom locked up the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2014.

deGrom stepped onto the mound with his full five-pitch arsenal and excellent command at his disposal. The Marlins looked uncomfortable in the batter's box from the start. In the first inning, he beat Cristian Yelich and Donovan Solano with fastballs on the inner third (keep in mind, these were the days when he was primarily a sinker-baller who averaged 93 and topped out at 96) and then got Jake McGee looking at a back-door sinker for a called third strike.

He started the second inning the same way, nailing the outside corner with a sinker to catch Marcell Ozuna looking. He then got Justin Bour and Adeiny Hechavarria swinging on fastballs up and out of the zone. This tied the Mets’ team record for strikeouts to start a game.

He started the third inning by freezing former-Met Jordany Valdespin with a slider low and in to set a new Mets record for strikeouts to start a game. He then froze Jeff Mathais with a back-door sinker for the eighth consecutive strikeout, tying the Major League record to start a game.

Unfortunately, the next batter, Marlins starter Jarred Cosart, hit a single to break the streak. deGrom would go on to strike out 13 batters over seven innings, and in classic Mets fashion, the bullpen would blow the lead and the Mets would lose the game.

Jacob deGrom memories #2: The deGrom game

This is the most dominant pitching performance I’ve ever watched from start to finish. The Washington Nationals had no chance whatsoever against deGrom on April 23rd, 2021.

On the last page, I talked about how deGrom had his full arsenal and excellent command for his eight consecutive strikeout game in 2014. That was the old deGrom. Now fast forward to 2021 when he throws 101, and his 4-seam and slider are so elite that he scrapped his sinker and curveball altogether, and he rarely uses his changeup.

The deGrominator started the night with a three-pitch strikeout of Andrew Stevenson, finishing him with 101 low and in. Completely unfair pitch. He followed that by striking out Josh Harrison on a slider that almost bounced in the left-handed batters box. In the second inning, he blew Josh Bell away with a fastball up and in, and then got Yan Gomes chasing an outside slider. 

The rest of the night continued like this. The Nationals never figured out their timing or deGrom’s sequencing, so they were constantly late on fastballs and early on sliders and changeups. The most impressive inning was the top of the 7th, when deGrom carved through the heart of the Nationals’ order to set the record for the most strikeouts through four starts in a season with 50. He got Trea Turner and Josh Bell chasing low changeups, and froze Schwarber with a slider low and in.

The “Master of His Craft,” as broadcaster Gary Cohen likes to say, would finish the night with a two-hit shutout and 15 strikeouts, a personal best for the ace. It was the third consecutive start in which he struck out 14 batters or more. It’s still astonishing as I type this nearly two years later.

Oh, and did I mention he had two hits, including an RBI double? That guy can do it all.