Jacob deGrom

Jacob deGrom is a dominant right-hander who won back-to-back NL Cy Young Awards with the Mets before joining the Texas Rangers.

Jacob deGrom posted a 1.70 ERA over 217 innings in 2018 and followed it with a 2.43 ERA in 2019, winning back-to-back National League Cy Young Awards and establishing himself as the most dominant starting pitcher of his era — a pitcher whose combination of triple-digit velocity and pinpoint command has few parallels in the modern game. The New York Mets selected him in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB Draft, where scouts recognized his raw arm talent despite his relatively late conversion to the mound. DeGrom made his major league debut in 2014 and immediately established himself as a force, earning National League Rookie of the Year honors. His breakout seasons came in 2018 and 2019, when he delivered two of the most dominant pitching campaigns in modern baseball history. During this peak period, he consistently threw fastballs exceeding 100 mph while maintaining pinpoint control, complemented by a devastating slider that became virtually unhittable. His 2018 season featured a 1.70 ERA over 217 innings, followed by an even more impressive 2.43 ERA in 2019 despite receiving minimal run support from his team's offense. The right-hander captured consecutive National League Cy Young Awards in 2018 and 2019, becoming only the 11th pitcher to achieve back-to-back wins. His strikeout-to-walk ratios during these seasons ranked among the finest in baseball history, regularly exceeding 5:1. DeGrom's four All-Star selections and consistent sub-3.00 ERA throughout his prime years established him among the elite pitchers of the 2010s. He also played a crucial role in the Mets' 2015 National League pennant run. DeGrom's career has been defined by the rare combination of overwhelming velocity and exceptional command that few pitchers possess. While injuries have periodically limited his availability, his peak performance level represents the pinnacle of modern pitching excellence. His ability to maintain elite velocity deep into games while posting historically low walk rates has influenced how organizations evaluate and develop starting pitchers in the contemporary era.

Power pitcher with elite fastball and slider combination

One of the most dominant pitchers of the late 2010s

• 2x NL Cy Young (2018, 2019)
• NL Rookie of the Year 2014
• 5x All-Star
• AL Comeback Player of the Year 2025