Kevin Kernan of the NY Post caught up with Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom at spring training Saturday and was greeted with a smile. I would be smiling too if I was part of a starting rotation with as much potential as the Mets’.
“I think it could be a lot of fun,’’ deGrom told Kernan at Tradition Field. “I’m definitely looking forward to what it could be, and I think everybody else on the staff is, too.’’
The potential of this Mets staff blows Generation K out of the water. Noah Syndergaard, Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, and Zack Wheeler are all joining deGrom in a healthy rotation for the first time ever, with the promising young Robert Gsellman for insurance. All of those pitchers are capable of throwing a shutout on any given day, but injuries have always loomed over their heads.
Jacob deGrom had surgery in September to reposition the ulnar nerve in his right elbow. When asked about his progress, he said, “Since I’ve had the nerve moved, I haven’t had any of the pain that was there, so I would call it a success so far.”
If deGrom comes back healthy, he is capable of winning a Cy Young award. Noah Syndergaard is also capable, while Matt Harvey is harder to predict. Nobody is really sure how he will come back from surgery to remove a rib, however so far this offseason there have only been positive reports. If he comes back healthy, however, he is absolutely capable of winning the award.
Steven Matz, Zack Wheeler, and Robert Gsellman, while less likely to win a Cy Young, are by all means formidable pitchers and round out what could be the best starting rotation in the Majors.
“We are healthy and we are ready to go,’’ deGrom said. “It should be an exciting year. I’m looking forward to it.’’
So am I, Jake… So am I.
