Jacob deGrom made his return to the Texas Rangers in a 5-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners, showcasing his signature fast pitches once again. The two-time Cy Young winner struck out four batters and allowed four hits in 3 2/3 scoreless innings, hitting 98.7 mph on his first strikeout.
Despite being limited to 61 pitches, deGrom put on an impressive performance, getting 10 whiffs on 31 total swings and not throwing a fastball slower than 96 mph. Of his 61 pitches, 31 were sliders and 26 were fastballs.
While the Rangers had a good start, a three-run homer from Julio Rodriguez in the eighth inning secured a 5-4 win for the Mariners.
Jacob deGrom is pitching to be ready for 2025
With the 2025 season being more crucial than 2024 at this point, the Rangers will gradually increase the workload of the 36-year-old deGrom. Reigning World Series MVP Corey Seager is already out for the season due to sports hernia surgery.
Although the Rangers signed deGrom to a five-year, $185 million contract after the 2022 season, they were hoping for more than just two months of abbreviated work. The team remains optimistic about deGrom’s potential as a strong asset for the 2025 season, despite his injury concerns.
Looking ahead, Texas aims for deGrom to continue pitching, gradually increasing his workload, and demonstrating his pitching prowess. Friday’s performance was a positive step towards this goal.