New York Mets: meet Jacob deGrom, the cheat code

Heading into the 2021 campaign, the New York Mets have a lot to be excited about. There’s an unquestioned buzz around the city of New York and Mets fans are not afraid of letting the baseball world know about it. Between the additions of Francisco Lindor, Carlos Carrasco, and new owner Steve Cohen – this excitement is justified. But, let’s not overlook the importance and absurd talent of ace pitcher Jacob deGrom.

deGrom has been putting on a show this Spring Training. He already looks like he’s in mid-season form, something Mets fans have grown accustomed to over the past few seasons. After all, deGrom owns two of the past three NL Cy Young Awards and a third-place finish last season.

New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom’s pitching talent is simply unfair

The two-time Cy Young Award winner is dazzling hitters this spring. Yes, the competition includes a lot of young faces and names that won’t necessarily be on Opening Day rosters. But, let’s have some fun with this – just like deGrom has been.

On Monday, deGrom picked up his second win of the exhibition season while throwing 50 pitches over four innings of work. His first inning of work was the highlight of this performance. In that first inning, against the top of the Houston Astros’ lineup, deGrom’s fastball echoed satisfying pops of the glove that rang throughout the Mets’ facility in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

In fact, deGrom threw 11 fastballs that inning with eight registering at least 100 mph on the radar gun. He also mixed in his lethal slider that hits upwards of 95 mph. This is the type of pitch repertoire that only young baseball fans can dream of creating in a video game.

The Mets ace continues to ramp up these special performances throughout Spring Training and looks primed for another Cy Young Award run in 2021. Through three starts, deGrom owns a 1.00 ERA after striking out 16 batters in nine innings of work. Averaging 16 strikeouts per nine innings? Yes, that’s unfair.

While New York’s exhibition schedule only features four different opponents, it’s worth pointing out that all three of deGrom’s starts have been against Houston. His March 11th outing was equally impressive, throwing three perfect innings and striking out seven of the nine batters he faced.

Unfortunately, the New York Mets won’t face the Astros during the regular season, but there’s no doubt that deGrom already appears back in his award-winning form. This is certainly promising for a special season in Queens.