Jacob deGrom: The Best Pitcher of a Generation
Jacob deGrom is an anomaly in today’s game. Over the past several years, deGrom has been on a different level, dominating hitters with his exceptional fastball and slider, both of which have set new mlb stubsstandards for pitching excellence in MLB.
DeGrom's fastball regularly sits in the upper 90s and can even hit triple digits at times. What makes it so special is not just the speed, but the movement. His fastball has some of the most ridiculous vertical and horizontal movement in the game, making it nearly impossible for hitters to square up. His slider is equally devastating, with late, sharp break that keeps batters off-balance.
What separates deGrom from many of his contemporaries is his ability to stay healthy and maintain his elite performance. Despite battling some injuries over the years, when he’s on the mound, he is nearly unhittable. His 2021 season, for instance, was a historic one, where he posted a mind-boggling 1.08 ERA over 15 starts. His stuff is so good that hitters are often left looking foolish, and his strikeout rate is consistently through the roof.
The main issue with deGrom is his injury history, which has kept him from logging full seasons in recent years. However, when healthy, he is arguably the most dominant pitcher of this generation. The Mets have been fortunate to have him lead their rotation, and if they can keep him healthy, he could very well add to his already impressive list of accomplishments, including multiple Cy Young Awards.
Key Stats to Note:
ERA: 2.52
Career Strikeouts: Over 1,500
Cy Young Awards: 2 (and many top-3 finishes)
As long as deGrom is on the mound, he will always be a contender for best pitcher in the game. His ability to overpower hitters with precision and movement is something to behold.