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Thursday, March 28, 2024

NY Mets Pitcher Wins Rookie of the Year

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Jacob Anthony deGrom is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball.

Jewish Voice readers got a special treat recently when news broke that New York Mets right-hander Jacob DeGrom was the winner of the National League Rookie of the Year Award. The Mets desperately looking for a positive after another losing season in Flushing, got a big one in DeGrom’s big ROY accomplishment.

DeGrom received 26 of 30 first-place votes. Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton and St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong finished second and third, respectively, in the voting conducted by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. Jacob DeGrom became the first NL rookie to post an ERA under 2.75 and at least one strikeout per inning pitched. Four of those five pitchers went on to win the ROY award.

DeGrom, 26, went 9-6 with a 2.69 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 140 1/3 innings pitched over 22 starts for the Mets this season. DeGrom initially was called up to the majors to work out of the bullpen. Instead, he excelled in starts as a side-muscle injury kept Dillon Gee on the disabled list. As a result, DeGrom pitched the remainder of the season as a starter.

“I was just thankful to be in the big leagues this year,” DeGrom said. “Receiving this amazing award was a great honor.” Pitching Coach Dan Warthen praised DeGrom’s poise on the mound as a rookie. “You know the antiperspirant commercial? You never see him sweat,” Warthen said.

Warthen added that the Mets are positioned well for the future with starting ace Matt Harvey returning from Tommy John surgery and Zack Wheeler also emerging as an ace. “When you put Jacob in there with Wheeler and Harvey, they should all be synonymous,” Warthen said.

Jacob DeGrom was twice named NL Rookie of the Month, and he also tied a MLB record by striking out the first eight batters he faced against the Miami Marlins on Sept. 15. The Mets drafted DeGrom in the ninth round of the 2010 draft. He became the fifth Rookie of the Year in franchise history, joining Tom Seaver (1967), Jon Matlack (1972), Darryl Strawberry (1983) and Dwight Gooden (1984).

Hamilton, 24, hit .250 with six home runs, 48 RBIs and a team rookie-record 56 stolen bases. Hamilton stole a combined 155 bases in 2012 while still in the minors. That set a new Minor League Baseball single-season record for steals.

The Mets looking for their first playoff berth since winning the division in 2006 appear to have a bright future. With free agency underway and the young promising talent on their roster, team management is committed to making a financial splash to get the team back on track. Spring training this March should be very exciting in Mets land.

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