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MLB Power Rankings: Top 25 players in the game today

By Joshua Sadlock

ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 09: Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during an at bat in the second inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers played on April 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - APRIL 09: Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (27) during an at bat in the second inning of a game against the Milwaukee Brewers played on April 9, 2019 at Angel Stadium of Anaheim in Anaheim, CA. (Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 09: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets in action against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field on April 09, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Twins defeated the Mets 14-8. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 09: Jacob deGrom #48 of the New York Mets in action against the Minnesota Twins at Citi Field on April 09, 2019 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. The Twins defeated the Mets 14-8. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

18. Jacob deGrom

As the vaunted New York Mets trio of Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard climbed the ranks of the Minor Leagues and made their MLB debuts, it was deGrom who played third fiddle to his rotation mates. What a difference a half-decade makes. It is deGrom who has established himself as one of the league’s best arms, and he now has the hardware to back it up.

Despite receiving negligible run support and winning only 10 games last season, deGrom was rewarded by the BBWAA with the NL Cy Young. Pitcher wins as a means of evaluating the best hurlers in the game may finally be a thing of the past. deGrom finished the season 10-9 with a 1.70 ERA which led the major leagues. He also led the big leagues in FIP and allowed only 10 home runs in 217 innings. deGrom allowed more than three earned runs in only one start (coincidentally, that was one of the few times the Mets scored enough runs to not require a herculean effort from their starter).

The Mets rewarded deGrom’s career season with a five-year, $137.5-million contract extension that will keep him on the team for the remainder of his prime. deGrom was off to another epic start to 2019, but has since made a trip to the injured list with elbow soreness. He is 2-2 through his first four starts but has struck out 36 in only 22 innings. deGrom became the first pitcher in decades to strike out 14 and hit a home run in his start on April 3 against the Miami Marlins. Provided the elbow holds up the rest of the season, deGrom will return to domination, setting himself to catapult even higher up this list next season.

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