Philadelphia-for the first time since 8 October 2022-the lonely Mets Wild-Card victory on the Padres that is in the late season is Degrom Day.
Almost three years later, Jacob Degrom will step on the same Citi Field -rubber that he climbed on top and reached heights that few or no pitchers have ever reached.
“That is his hill,” said long-term teammate Pete Alonso for the 6-4 loss of the Mets to the Phillies on Thursday evening in Citizens Bank Park. “Although he is somewhere else or with another team, that is Jake’s hill.”
The former Mets Superstar, who plays the leading role, if not super starring with the Rangers, returns to Queens on Friday for the first time since she leaves the free desk after the 2022 season.
Fold is no longer confronted with the Mets since signing a five -year, $ 185 million pact with Texas, which lags behind an inheritance of unusual rule and too common vulnerability.
For nine seasons with the Mets, Degrom was perhaps the best and undoubtedly the most overwhelming pitcher of his generation.
The right -handed, who almost came out of nowhere to make his debut in 2014 and to conquer the NL Rookie of the Year Award, began to push the boundaries of what a throwing arm can do.
A Fastball that amounted to an average of 93.5 mph in ’14 was pumped to 95.2 mph by 2017.
Than 96.
Than 96.9.
Than 98.6.
Than 99.2.
The corresponding results were overwhelming.
He won NL Cy Young Awards in 2018 and 2019.
He has made five all-star teams.
His career 153 ERA+ as a starter only follows two pitchers in history: Clayton Kershaw (155) and Pedro Martinez (154).
His career 10.8 Strikeouts per nine innings is the second best ever among qualified pitchers (behind the 11.1 from Chris Sale).
But the series of injuries started in 2021, which limited him to 26 starts in his last two frustrating Mets seasons.
Combined with the Tommy John operation from 2023 that takes away most of that season and most of last season, is the only factor that can stop him against the Hall of Fame.
Not in Alonso’s thoughts.
“In my mind, he is a Hall of Famer,” Alonso said before he ended a series at the Phillies. “If he is healthy, he is probably one of the best to ever do it.
“What he can bring on the basis of initial start, it’s really special. I am happy that he is healthy this year. He has had a fantastic year. I want him to stay healthy, so that he can finish his career and go to Cooperstown.”
This season looked different for the 37-year-old DEGROM, who acknowledged that he attempted to stay on the field in an attempt.
He receives Cy Young votes, but will not win with a 2.78 ERA -downright human compared to the 1.08 marking he posted in 15 Starts in 2021.
He has an average of 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings, against the 14.3 that he had completed in ’21 and ’22.
Perhaps this version of Degrom will be similar to that where Alonso is being seen in Port St. Lucie in March.
“Hopefully, [Friday is] Go go much better than those, because they were usually my first, second or third perches after they had not seen a pitch for four or five months, and the ball looks like a tic tac, “Alonso said.
Alonso called the publicly reserved Degrom a “great teammate” and “great guy” who always wanted to be his best and inspired the teammates to be their best.
In what a high compliment in the game is, Alonso said that Voldgrom is a “baseball player” – not just a pitcher, but a great athlete who would call itself a failed short stop.
Often pitching for non -competitive Mets teams and fans a reason to coordinate every five days, Dadgrom was loved by fans, whose reception will be curious for him years later.
“Only because he plays for another team does not mean that he will not be with,” Alonso said about Degrom, who will be opposed by top perspective Jonah Tong. “Of course he plays for the Rangers … [but] You cannot remove history and what he not only has for this fan base, but the organization and the baseball game. “
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