Jacob deGrom officially joined one of MLB’s most exclusive clubs on Thursday night, notching his 2,000th career strikeout against the Washington Nationals. This isn’t just another number; fewer than 100 pitchers in the entire history of Major League Baseball have ever reached that epic milestone.
A Milestone for the Ages, First Inning Style
You know deGrom wasn’t going to make us wait. He hit that historic 2,000 K mark right in the top of the first inning. He started the game by punching out Daylen Lile swinging, then sealed the deal with a wicked 92.6-mph slider that sent Abimelec Ortiz back to the dugout on five pitches. That’s a classic deGrom move, right there! Talk about a significant accomplishment for a guy who’s been one of the most dominant pitchers in the game since he first stepped on a big league mound with the New York Mets way back in 2013. And get this: he was never even listed as a top-100 prospect. As a rookie, he just showed up and put up a ridiculous 2.69 ERA over 140 1/3 innings, with 144 strikeouts. That earned him the National League Rookie of the Year, blowing everyone’s expectations out of the water.
From Cy Young Heights to Injury Struggles
He kept crushing it with the Mets, but deGrom went absolutely next-level in 2018. That season, he led all of baseball with an insane 1.70 ERA over 217 innings, watching his strikeout rate explode. It was no surprise when he snagged his first-ever Cy Young award. He repeated the dominance in 2019, posting a 2.43 ERA over 204 innings and leading baseball with 255 strikeouts, earning him back-to-back Cy Youngs. Even in the COVID-19 shortened season, he led the league in strikeouts again with 104. But that’s when the injury bug started to bite, and it bit hard. Injuries limited deGrom to only 26 starts over his final two years with the Mets. He was still putting up incredible numbers when he pitched, but his durability became a serious question mark.
The Comeback Kid Isn’t Done Yet
Those injuries really came at a tough time, right when deGrom hit the free-agent market after the 2022 MLB season. Still, his talent was undeniable, and the Rangers signed him to a massive five-year, $185 million contract that offseason. His start in Texas was rough, though: Tommy John surgery after just six starts basically knocked out his entire 2023 and 2024 seasons. He did make three starts in 2024, flashing that strong ability we all know. But the real comeback started in 2025 with a full-on resurgence. He tossed 172 2/3 innings, hitting triple digits for the first time since 2019, finishing with a 2.97 ERA and 185 strikeouts, even making the All-Star team for the first time since 2021. Yeah, he’s had some minor issues in 2026, entering Thursday’s start with a 3.95 ERA over 121 1/3 innings. But hitting 2,000 K’s puts him 93rd on the all-time list, and he’s still got some gas left in the tank. With 38 years on the clock and at least one more season under contract with the Rangers, deGrom is definitely looking to climb past some of those active legends like Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Gerrit Cole, and Aaron Nola who are ahead of him. This story is far from over, so keep your eyes glued to his next start!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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