Fansided

Each MLB team’s current Hall of Famer

By Benjamin Chase

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 27: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim first baseman Albert Pujols (5) and center fielder Mike Trout (27) head for the dugout after both scored on an Angels hit in the seventh inning of a game against the New York Yankees played on April 27, 2018 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 27: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim first baseman Albert Pujols (5) and center fielder Mike Trout (27) head for the dugout after both scored on an Angels hit in the seventh inning of a game against the New York Yankees played on April 27, 2018 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Jacob deGrom, New York Mets
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 02: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets walks off the field after the fourth inning against the Atlanta Braves on May 2, 2018 at Citi Field in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

New York Mets: Jacob deGrom

After thinking I’d need to do a complete re-write here, it was a relief to see that deGrom avoided major injury when he recently left a start against the Braves early!

One of those guys who really wasn’t on the radar of any publications in 2010 when he was drafted as a senior sign pick out of Stetson in the 9th round, deGrom returned from 2011 Tommy John surgery with added command and a tick more velocity, and once he built up his arm strength over the 2012 season, he exploded up the Mets farm system in 2013.

He made his debut with the Mets in May of 2014, and since then, he’s been one of the best pitchers in the entire major leagues while being overshadowed by his own teammate, Noah Syndergaard. In his first year, deGrom won the NL Rookie of the Year award, made the All-Star team in 2015, and he’s now had two top 10 Cy Young award finishes in his 4 seasons in the majors.

The big concern in putting deGrom in this spot is his age as he’s already in his age-30 season. He was a 26-year-old rookie, which is something to consider. He also played with some rough Mets teams, so he’s not had great luck racking up wins right now. He has at least 3.0 bWAR each season of his major league career.

At the pace he’s had thus far, deGrom would have just over 1,700 innings thrown, 1,800 strikeouts, 100 wins, and 40 bWAR when he completes his age-35 season. He will likely need to do what many hard-throwing pitchers do and re-invent how he attacks hitters as he ages, but he already works so well on his command that adjusting to reduced velocity for deGrom should come much easier than many who rely heavily on their swing and miss and often struggle to command the ball.

It will be a challenge, for certain, but deGrom has the stuff and the command that he could make that work!

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