Former NL Cy Young Winner Gunning for Same Award in AL This Season

Six years removed from his second National League Cy Young Award, right-handed starting pitcher Jacob deGrom appears to have finally returned to form.

This time, though, it’s in the American League and he has a chance to become one of few pitchers to win the award in both leagues.

Injuries have killed what looked like a surefire Hall of Fame career for the former New York Met, now Texas Rangers pitcher. This season has been different, as deGrom is finally healthy again and he is putting together his best season in quite some time.

The highlight of his season came Tuesday, when he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Baltimore Orioles. He ultimately allowed a hit and was removed from the game, but it was definitely one of his best starts of the season.

After that start, deGrom is now 8-2 with a 2.08 ERA and 94 strikeouts across 16 starts and 95 1/3 innings pitched. Both his manager Bruce Bochy and battery mate Jonah Heim were impressed with deGrom’s most recent outing.

“First guy that got a hit, that was far enough,” Bochy said, per The Associated Press. “We had a nice lead, and he’s so fun to watch. He really is. I’ve said this. I’m a fan when he’s pitching.”

Heim noted that Tuesday was the best deGrom has looked in his 25 starts in a Rangers uniform.

“That’s the best I’ve ever seen him since he came over here,” Heim was quoted as saying by the AP. “So really encouraging to see really proud of him for all the work he’s put in to get here.”

Texas has underperformed a bit this season and entering Friday, it is a game under .500 for the season. If those struggles continue and deGrom is able to continue his excellence, he could become a massive trade target and could be the key piece for any team that is in need of starting pitching.

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