Jacob deGrom’s Comeback: Is He the Best Pitcher in Baseball Again?

By Oliver Wiener July 08, 2025 21:12

Jacob deGrom’s journey back to the mound has been nothing short of remarkable. After enduring multiple injuries and two Tommy John surgeries, many wondered if the former two-time Cy Young Award winner could ever reclaim his dominance. As of mid-2025, deGrom is proving those doubts wrong, showcasing a blend of resilience, adaptation, and elite pitching that raises the question: Is he the best pitcher in baseball again?

DeGrom’s peak years from 2018 to 2021 were historic. During that stretch, he combined blazing fastball velocity with pinpoint command and devastating off-speed pitches, drawing comparisons to legends like Pedro Martinez, Nolan Ryan, and Greg Maddux. In 2018 alone, he posted a 1.70 ERA over 217 innings with 269 strikeouts and only 46 walks, a level of dominance rarely seen in modern baseball. His 2021 season further cemented his legacy, as he set records for strikeouts in the first four starts and maintained an unprecedentedly low walks plus hits per inning pitched ratio of 0.51 through 12 starts.

However, injuries derailed his momentum. After a second Tommy John surgery in June 2023, many speculated that deGrom’s career might be over. Yet, his 2025 spring training and early season performances with the Texas Rangers have been a revelation. In his first ten starts, deGrom posted a 4-1 record with a 2.33 ERA, striking out 53 batters while limiting walks to just 11 in 51 innings pitched. Remarkably, he has pitched seven innings in consecutive starts for the first time since 2019 and has held opponents to two or fewer runs in seven straight games.

What stands out in deGrom’s comeback is not just his statistical excellence but his evolved approach. He acknowledges that he cannot simply overpower hitters as he once did. “I think it’s going to be a monitor of stressful innings versus not,” deGrom said in spring training. “The instinct to be all I can be never will go away. But instead, I’m learning to throttle down, induce ground balls early, and be smarter with my pitches”. This strategic evolution allows him to maintain velocity averaging 97 mph on his fastball and topping out at 98 mph and still command a devastating slider and curveball mix. His artistry on the mound was on full display during a spring outing where he struck out reigning MVP runner-up Bobby Witt Jr. with a 91.5-mph slider and finished with a masterful sequence that left hitters baffled.

Teammates and observers have noticed the transformation as well. Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka remarked, “It’s almost like playing a video game. Just put the glove up, and that’s where the ball goes, and it’s at 100 mph. He’s phenomenal”. This blend of velocity, precision, and savvy pitch sequencing is what made deGrom arguably the best pitcher in baseball before injuries, and it’s what he is rediscovering now.

Still, questions remain about sustainability. At 36, deGrom is in the final phase of his career, and the historical precedent for pitchers returning to form after a third Tommy John surgery is slim. His workload is being carefully managed to avoid overtaxing his arm, with the Rangers aiming to keep him healthy for a full 162-game season for the first time since 2019.

Jacob deGrom’s 2025 season is a testament to his resilience and adaptability. While he may no longer be the overpowering force of his prime, his refined approach, combined with flashes of his old brilliance, position him once again among baseball’s elite pitchers. Whether he is definitively the best pitcher in baseball today is a matter of debate, but there is no doubt that deGrom is back and back in a way that commands respect and admiration across the league.

Jacob deGrom’s story is one of perseverance and evolution, and as he continues to pitch at an elite level, the baseball world watches closely to see if he can once again claim the mantle of the game’s best pitcher.