This is finally the vintage Jacob deGrom pitching for the Texas Rangers, and not because the lanky right-hander recently turned 37 years old.
After several injury-filled seasons in a row, both before and since going to Arlington as a free agent, deGrom is again an ace — and, for fifth time in his career, an MLB All-Star.
“It’s a little bit of validation,” deGrom said. “Coming back from a major surgery, your second (Tommy John), there is some unknown. To be fortunate enough to be able to throw the ball pretty well, I’m just thankful to be able to be back out there on a major league mound.”
This year, deGrom (9-2, 2.29 ERA) has made 18 starts, twice as many as he had combined the past two seasons after joining the Rangers in the American League. It is already his most since 2019, when he won his second National League Cy Young Award in a row while pitching for the New York Mets.
He gets the chance to represent the AL in an MLB All-Star Game for the first time after being the only Texas player selected for the Midsummer Classic, which takes place next Tuesday at Truist Park, the home of the NL’s Atlanta Braves.