New York Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom is pitching with incredible velocity to start the 2021 season. His arm was on fire against the Philadelphia Phillies.
If anyone wondered whether Jacob deGrom would make a run at a third Cy Young Award, he answered the question in his season debut.
DeGrom started as the Mets finally got their season kicked off against the Phillies on Monday night.
To say the pitcher was feeling it would be an understatement. He lasered pitches so hard he toyed with breaking the radar gun.
Jacob deGrom (102.0 MPH) has now thrown the hardest pitch of the season so far.
— Foolish Baseball (@FoolishBB) April 5, 2021
That one pitch wasn’t alone. Anthony DiComo of MLB.com pointed out the ridiculous level deGrom found on Monday night.
Seven of the 25 fastest pitches of Jacob deGrom's career have come tonight. deGrom is AVERAGING 100 mph on his fastball this evening, and he's reached 102.0.
— Anthony DiComo (@AnthonyDiComo) April 6, 2021
Three scoreless for deGrom so far. pic.twitter.com/WhhSO4FdfO
The pitcher trusted his fastball. According to David Adler of MLB, he threw 24 consecutive heaters to start the game, averaging 99.6 MPH.
Contributions from deGrom weren’t limited to the mound. He also batted in a run in the fourth inning.
Jacob deGrom is picking up where he left off for the Mets
Unfortunately for the Mets, deGrom couldn’t do it alone. After six scoreless innings, with seven strikeouts and three hits allowed, the Mets pulled him. The bullpen let him down by giving up five runs in the eighth to concede the lead to the Phillies.
deGrom is entering his eighth season in New York and looking to continue his impressive run. He was the Rookie of the Year in 2014 and an All-Star in 2015. He regained All-Star status in 2018 and 2019 while also picking up two Cy Youngs. Last year he finished third in the voting after maintaining a 2.38 ERA.
The start to the 2021 season was delayed for the Mets because of a COVID-19 outbreak on the Nationals. Having to wait a few extra days to play didn’t do deGrom any harm clearly.