PITTSBURGH -- Jacob deGrom turned 37 on Thursday.
The saying goes that Father Time comes for us all. And while deGrom is by no means old, some sort of decline is often expected of athletes as 40 inches closer and closer. But the Rangers’ ace has looked as good as ever.
In his first start as a 37-year-old, deGrom collected another quality start, tossing six innings of two-run ball in the Rangers’ 6-2 win over the Pirates on Friday night at PNC Park. He's now logged 12 straight starts of five or more innings and two or fewer runs, which is the longest such streak in Rangers/Senators history and the longest in MLB this season.
According to STATS, that's also the longest streak by any MLB pitcher 35 or older in the Modern Era (since 1900).
“It’s been great [watching him],” manager Bruce Bochy said. “I've always said this, and I appreciate his talent. I'm a fan. I love watching him, so to have him back healthy and watching what he's doing, it's cool. For him to be pitching without being in pain, I'm excited for him, because he went through a lot before the surgery. It’s just good to see a healthy guy that’s one of the best ever in the game.”
deGrom, a notoriously harsh personal critic, didn’t have much negative to say about his start.
After allowing two runs on four hits and a walk in the fourth inning, deGrom came back with a vengeance and struck out the side easily in the fifth. It was about as smooth sailing as a start could have gone, especially with the Rangers jumping out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning and adding on throughout the game.
“I just kind of lost it in the fourth [inning],” deGrom said. “Everything was down and middle. They battled me and put some balls in play that found some holes. Looking back, I don't think the selection was bad, I just think it was the location. I was fortunate enough to be able to come back and put up a couple zeros for two more innings.”
When asked if he’s surprised by what deGrom has been able to do this season, Bochy just let out a laugh. When healthy, this is who deGrom has always been. And while it’s true that he’s missed quite a bit of time due to various injuries, deGrom has never changed when he’s taken the mound.
“I can't say better than expected, because I expected Jacob to do what he's been doing his whole career,” Bochy said. “Now he's doing what I saw a lot from the other side. This is what he can do when he's healthy. ... The consistency is remarkable. He’s so gifted at putting the ball where he wants. I'm a fan. I appreciate these players -- their gifts and talents -- but especially him and what he can do.”
It obviously means a lot to deGrom to be able to pitch this well when making his return to the mound as well.
deGrom only made nine starts through his first two seasons with Texas due to Tommy John surgery in June 2023. He had only 38 starts over the previous three years before joining the Rangers, including the COVID-shortened 2020 season and a number of injuries between 2021-22.
“You miss this game,” deGrom said of missing so much time. “We give everything to play this game, and then when you're sidelined for quite some time, it's not fun. To be able to be able to get back out there and compete, that's what we want to do. We want to stay out there. Now the goal is to just try to continue to do that and take the ball as much as I can, come back and pitch this well again.”
It’s not perfect every time out. The fourth inning on Friday is a perfect example. But what had made deGrom so special for so much of his career is being able to make in-game adjustments. His ability to analyze what the hitters are giving him and use it to his own advantage is second to none.
deGrom's work between starts is just as rigorous. He’s constantly working on things, constantly tinkering. He’s trying to be better each time out.
“That's what the great ones do,” Bochy said. “They see perfection and excellence, and they're always going to be demanding of themselves to be better. That's what makes them so good.”