Texas Rangers Ace Jacob deGrom Setting Strikeout Records
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The return of Jacob deGrom wasn’t just stellar for the Texas Rangers.
It was downright historic.
The staff ace is setting franchise records and moving up other career lists in seemingly every start. And the one constant with each notable stat tends to be deGrom’s ability to strike out batters at an incredible rate.
deGrom (2-0) tied a season-high with 11 strikeouts in Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Oakland Athletics in just six innings and 80 pitches. Since pitches were first tracked in 1988, deGrom became just the 12th pitcher with 11 or more punchouts on 80-or-fewer pitches. (The New York Yankees’ Domingo Germán was the last to do it, fanning 11 Minnesota Twins on 78 pitches on April 15.)
And deGrom’s performance came after being lifted Monday against the Kansas City Royals after just four innings due to right wrist soreness.
“I felt good,” deGrom said, according to MLB.com. “I came out of the one before this a little early out of precaution, but felt really good today, so that was a huge plus. I think [I’m rounding into form]. Especially late there, I was able to throw the changeup and it was really good. Anytime I can mix it up a little bit more versus just the fastball-slider [combo], it’s a huge plus.”
The A’s managed just three hits off deGrom, but Shea Langeliers did drill a two-run homer in the fourth.
“I didn’t know how many strikeouts I had in the game, honestly,” deGrom said. “It’s just like I said, it’s one pitch at a time, trying to throw it where I want to the best of my ability. I try to minimize the thought process and see the target and try to hit it. The homer was a mistake, so then after that, I was like, ‘Okay, let’s refocus and just hit the glove.’ That’s what I was trying to do.”
deGrom has done the 11-80 trick twice in his career, striking out on 12 on 76 against the Atlanta Braves on Aug. 7, 2022 for the New York Mets. It’s only been done one other Texas pitcher – Matt Perisho struck out 12 on 78 on Oct. 3, 1999 at the Los Angeles Angels.
He has a MLB-leading 43 strikeouts (in just 26 2/3 innings) and three walks through five starts. No pitcher has ever done that with a new team in baseball history and it’s been done just six times in the Modern Era (beg. 1901) overall, according to Stathead. deGrom also did it last season.
He has 60 career games with at least 10 strikeouts, which is tied with Rube Waddell for 15th-most all-time. The only active MLB pitchers with more career games of 10-plus strikeouts are Max Scherzer (110), Chris Sale (79), Justin Verlander (72) and Clayton Kershaw (68).
deGrom has 16 games of at least 11 Ks without a walk. That’s the 10th-most ever and sixth among active hurlers: Scherzer (29), Kershaw (27), Gerrit Cole (21), Verlander (20) and Sale (18).
The lists of accomplishments, when it comes to deGrom, just seems to go on. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is happy to have the best seat in the house.
“When you step back for a little bit, you miss having a really good seat and seeing the best players in the world,” said Bochy, referring to his three-year break from managing. “They can be elite and you just appreciate their gifts and talents, and that’s the same with Jake. You just marvel at how good these guys can be. I’m a fan when he pitches, trust me.”
More importantly, the American League West-leading Rangers (14-7) are 5-0 in deGrom starts. Texas starts a three-game series at the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night with Nathan Eovaldi (2-2, 5.40) set to start.
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