Jacob DeGrom’s Return to Citi Field

Jacob DeGrom’s first appearance against the Mets at Citi Field was quite the contrast from his nine years spent with the team. This time, he was backed by six runs in the very first inning.

DeGrom took the mound against rookie Jonaton on Friday, securing a 6-0 lead that would help the Rangers to an 8-3 win, marking the Mets’ seventh consecutive loss. “That means a lot. The fans were fantastic to me during my time here, and they were again tonight,” DeGrom shared. “I’ve always liked pitching in front of this crowd. Tonight felt special.”

He had been aware that this could be his last chance to pitch here this year, but he was eager for the opportunity. The Mets did manage to score three runs against him in the third inning, but after that, DeGrom retired the last 15 batters he faced, finishing with 88 pitches and improving his record to 12-7 for the season.

The two-time NL Cy Young winner had signed a five-year, $185 million contract after the 2022 season, yet has played only nine games in two years due to Tommy John surgery—his second. At 37, he has a 2.82 ERA, ranking fourth in the American League while making his 28th start of the year.

“You tend to miss some pretty great times. Being my age, there’s a lot of uncertainty,” he reflected. “When it first happened, I was pretty down. But you just have to focus on getting back to the mound every day and competing at the level you want.”

Before the game, as he warmed up, the stadium played a video tribute featuring his favorite warm-up song, “Simple Man.” He acknowledged it with a smile and a wave to the crowd, expressing appreciation. “It was really cool. This is where it all began for me, and I thought it was a really special day to come back.”

DeGrom mentioned, “I spent nine years here, and everyone was good to me. The organization and the fans treated me well.” Early in the game, DeGrom faced a tough Mets lineup that scored rapid runs, a stark contrast to his previous experience of largely keeping teams at bay.

Relying on precision, it took DeGrom just six pitches to get through the first inning without allowing a hit. Though the Mets eventually managed to score against him, he quickly regained his rhythm, handling the next few batters with ease.

In total, DeGrom efficiently closed out the game after successfully retiring the last 15 hitters he faced, handing an 8-3 lead to the bullpen. “Why not? I’d like to keep doing this,” he said when asked about pitching in his 40s. “I love this game. When you miss a lot of time, you really see what you’re missing out on.”