Jacob deGrom’s return to Citi Field was an event marked by emotion and nostalgia. The pitcher, now with the Texas Rangers, was greeted with an emotional ovation and a video that reviewed his best moments with the New York Mets, his former team. Before throwing his first pitch, deGrom was treated to a six-run lead. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, as deGrom prepared with his warm-up song, “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The Friday night game saw the Rangers defeat the Mets with a score of 8-3. DeGrom, after allowing three runs in the third inning, managed to stabilize and retire the last 15 batters he faced. In seven game entries, deGrom allowed only four hits, demonstrating his quality. His current performance puts him with a 12-7 record and a 2.82 ERA in a season in which he was selected for his fifth All-Star, the first since 2021.
The return of deGrom to Citi Field was an anticipated moment, especially since the schedule was announced in July 2024. The pitcher expressed his desire to pitch again in that field, a wish that finally materialized. During the game, deGrom averaged 98 mph with his fastball, reaching 99.6 mph. He induced 14 outs in the outfield, surpassing his previous personal record. deGrom’s 2.14 regular season ERA at Citi Field is the second-lowest since 1920 for a pitcher with at least 500 innings pitched in that stadium, surpassed only by Sandy Koufax’s 1.37 at Dodger Stadium. It was a spectacle. He was the player people came to see pitch. DeGrom, winner of the National League Rookie of the Year award in 2014 and the Cy Young in 2018 and 2019, leads the Mets in ERA (2.52), WHIP (.998), and strikeouts per nine innings (10.91) among pitchers with at least 500 innings.The mound felt exactly the same.
Jacob deGrom
