ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jacob deGrom struck out eight over five innings in his 30th and final start of the season for the Texas Rangers, in what has to be considered a victory even though he didn't get one.
The 37-year-old lanky right-hander, their only All-Star this season, made all but one start this year while throwing 172 2/3 innings after missing most of his first two seasons with the Rangers because of Tommy John surgery.
“It’s a win. It’s an absolute win for the organization, for Jacob,” Chris
Young, the team's president of baseball operations, said before the game. “If you had told me before the year that he would have 30 starts, I would be thrilled, and I am. I’m so happy for him. He’s worked so hard. And to see him get 30 starts and have the year he’s had, it’s pretty special.”
With the no-decision in the Rangers' 4-2 win over Minnesota, DeGrom finished 12-8 with a 2.97 ERA and 185 strikeouts.
Even though he won only two of his final 10 starts, it was a solid comeback season for deGrom, who had made only 35 starts and pitched 197 1/3 innings combined the past four seasons.
A night after Texas was eliminated from playoff contention with its eighth consecutive loss, the game was tied 1-1 when deGrom threw the last of his 74 pitches. The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner allowed only one more hit and walked one after Bryon Buxton led off with a 447-foot home run to straightaway center on the second pitch of the game.
Robert Garcia took over on the mound to start the sixth inning.
DeGrom's final two seasons with the New York Mets were plagued by injury before he left in free agency after the 2022 season. He then had Tommy John surgery after only six starts in his Rangers debut in 2023, the season of their only World Series title. They won each of his starts that all came before the end of April that year.
After making three starts in the final month of the 2024 season, deGrom had a full offseason to prepare for this season.
“I believed in him the whole time that he’d have a full season this year,” Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien said. “He’s a guy who’s very hard on himself. You look at his numbers and say, wow, that’s a great year. And you ask him, he’s like, ‘Man I wish I could’ve did this or that.’ But he was an All-Star, he was our ace the entire year. ... The second year after Tommy John is usually better than the first, so that’s what I’m excited to see."
Earlier this season, deGrom set a Rangers franchise record with 14 consecutive starts going at least five innings and not giving up more than two runs. That same span was the longest streak by any traditional starter (not including openers) in the modern era since 1900 of not allowing more than six hits and two runs in a game, according to STATS.
He also came the closest he ever has to a no-hitter when allowing only a leadoff single in the eighth inning June 25 at Baltimore, a month after the only start in his career without a strikeout.
The $185 million, five-year deal deGrom signed with Texas included a conditional sixth-year club option worth at least $20 million and up to $37 million for 2028 that has been triggered because of the time missed injured.
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