Jacob deGrom is a right-handed pitcher from DeLand, Florida, and one of the most dominant arms the modern game has produced. Since his MLB debut in 2014, he’s put up numbers that belong in a different conversation — and in 2025, he reminded everyone he still belongs: 2.97 ERA, 185 strikeouts, and a 0.92 WHIP in 172.2 innings with the Texas Rangers.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Jacob deGrom
- Position: Starting Pitcher
- Team: Texas Rangers
- Number: 48
- Bats / Throws: Left / Right
- Height / Weight: 6’4″ / 180 lbs
- Born: June 19, 1988 — DeLand, Florida 🇺🇸
- MLB Debut: May 15, 2014
Background
DeGrom was born on June 19, 1988, in DeLand, Florida. One of his more interesting quirks: he throws right-handed but bats left — an athletic wrinkle that adds one more layer of unpredictability to an already tough read at the plate. The Mets drafted him in 2010, and after years of work in the minors refining his arsenal, he made his big-league debut on May 15, 2014.
New York gave him the stage, and he ran with it. Exceptional command, consistent velocity, and a competitor’s mindset turned him into the ace of the Mets’ rotation almost immediately.
Professional Career
DeGrom spent eight seasons with the Mets (2014–2021), cementing himself as one of the best starters the franchise has ever had. He later signed with the Texas Rangers, where he’s continued pitching at an elite level.
After an injury-limited 2024 — just 10.2 innings, though with a sparkling 1.69 ERA — he came back strong in 2025: 12 wins, 8 losses, 185 strikeouts, a 0.92 WHIP, and 172.2 innings pitched. That’s not a comeback story, that’s a statement.
Now 38, deGrom is still competing at a high level in 2026: 3.87 ERA, 8 wins, 144 strikeouts, and a 1.13 WHIP in 118.2 innings. The numbers show the miles, but he remains a legitimate presence in Texas’s rotation — proof that craft and consistency can stretch an elite career well past what most pitchers manage.
Career Stats Snapshot
- 2026 — Texas Rangers: 3.87 ERA | 8-7 | 144 K | 1.13 WHIP | 118.2 IP
- 2025 — Texas Rangers: 2.97 ERA | 12-8 | 185 K | 0.92 WHIP | 172.2 IP
- 2024 — Texas Rangers: 1.69 ERA | 0-0 | 14 K | 1.13 WHIP | 10.2 IP
Awards and Accolades
DeGrom is a two-time Cy Young Award winner (2018 and 2019) — the highest honor a pitcher can receive in Major League Baseball. He’s been named to multiple All-Star Games and built a career WAR during his Mets tenure that puts him among the elite starters of the 2010s and 2020s. Few pitchers in his era have matched his ability to miss bats while attacking the strike zone with such precision.
Fun Fact
Despite being a right-handed pitcher, deGrom bats left — a rare combination that speaks to his overall athleticism. But what really sets him apart isn’t physical: it’s the perfectionist mindset he brings to the mound. Even after two Cy Young Awards, he’s still analyzing every pitch, still chasing better. That’s the kind of detail work that keeps a career going at 38.
