Biography

BIOGRAPHY

Jacob deGrom was born on June 19, 1988, in DeLand, Florida. He is a pitcher in the MLB.

Prior to playing professionally, deGrom attended Stetson University and played college baseball for the Stetson Hatters.

DeGrom began playing baseball as a shortstop and was converted into a pitcher during his junior year at Stetson. The Mets selected him in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB draft, and he made his MLB debut with the Mets on May 15, 2014. That year, deGrom was named the National League's (NL) Rookie of the Month twice, and the NL Rookie of the Year. In 2015, 2018, and 2019 deGrom was selected as an MLB All-Star. In 2018, deGrom was the NL ERA leader and won the Cy Young Award. In 2019, he led the NL in strikeouts and won the Cy Young Award for the second year in a row. In 2020, he again led the NL in strikeouts.

DeGrom made his 2022 season debut for the Mets on August 2 against the Washington Nationals, allowing one run and striking out six in five innings. A September 13 start against the Cubs was deGrom's 39th consecutive start allowing three or fewer earned runs, tying a major league record set by Jim Scott of the Chicago White Sox in 1914. In his next start, on September 18, he broke Scott's record.  The stat line for deGrom in 2022 included a 3.08 earned run average over 11 starts, with 102 strikeouts.

Following the end of the season, deGrom opted out of his contract, joining a group of several other Mets entering free agency. 

On December 2, 2022, deGrom signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers.