Jacob deGrom did something that very few players are able to in this age of social media and constant connection. He flew under the radar.
After Tommy John Surgery in 2011 cost him that entire season, he emerged in 2012 and pitched well in A and High-A, establishing a 2.43 ERA. While 2013 was an up and down year for deGrom, he got the chance to pitch seven games early in 2014 for the Las Vegas 51’s. He went 4-0 and gave up just 11 earned runs in 38.1 innings. The majors were calling.
John Sickels of SB Nation raised the point that the breaking ball is what really put deGrom over the top. He already had a great fastball and change-up and adding that breaking ball pushed him forward.
Fangraphs Eno Sarris broke down what changed for deGrom. “. . .development has given him five pitches with different movement and different velocities: two 93 mph fastballs, an 87 mph slider, an 84 mph change and a 79 mph curve.” Those pitches are now the key to deGrom’s future.
Unlike in 2014, deGrom will enter 2015 with a clear spot in the Mets starting rotation. He will pitch with Matt Harvey at the major league level for the first time and they could lead one of the strongest rotations in baseball.
