Jacob deGrom’s start might’ve been abbreviated, but on Friday, he flashed some of the stuff that made him one of the best pitchers in all of baseball over the last decade.
In his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, deGrom struck out four in 3 ²/₃ scoreless innings for the Rangers in their 5-4 loss to the Mariners in Seattle.
“I told (a teammate) I’m like a baby deer out here: ‘I don’t know what I’m doing,’” deGrom said. “I almost fell over. I had quite a bit of nerves, so getting back out there was big. My legs were shaking a little bit.”
Jacob deGrom did not allow a run in 3 ²/₃ innings in his first start back from the injured list in the Rangers’ 5-4 loss to the Mariners on Sept. 13, 2024. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters ConHe topped out at 98.7 mph, reaching at least 97 mph 20 times while also recording 10 swings and misses.
After allowing a leadoff single in the first, he avoided trouble, striking out both Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena.
Jacob deGrom high-fives teammates after coming out of the game during the fourth inning of the Rangers’ loss to the Mariners Getty ImagesDeGrom’s night ended in the fourth after allowing a double and single, was removed after he retired Jorge Polanco on a flyball to center.
But reliever Walter Pennington worked out of trouble to keep Seattle off the board.
Overall, the two-time Cy Young Award winner threw 41 of 61 pitches for strikes.
He graded his performance as a C.
“It’s big to get out and pitch in a major league game, so you don’t feel like you’re in rehab mode for two straight years,” deGrom said. “And now let’s just try to get things back where they were executing pitches like you normally do and get ready to play next year.”
— with AP
