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Jacob deGrom almost threw an immaculate inning for the Mets.
In a perfect world for a pitcher, one inning would be over and done with in just nine straight strikes.
This is the almost the reality in which New York Mets ace and two-time Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom operates.
On Monday night against the Tampa Bay Rays, deGrom opened the first inning with three quick outs and nine strikes in just 10 total pitches. Basically, he was one pitch away from throwing an immaculate inning of nine straight strikes.
Jacob deGrom looks like he’s ready for another Cy Young award
As Joel Sherman of the New York Post pointed out, deGrom’s first inning included two strikes at 100 mph and six more above 99 mph. That is some serious heat from the 32-year-old.
It was only one inning, and the Rays got on the scoreboard in the top of the second inning, but any inning with just 10 pitches and nine strikes for three quick outs is the stuff of legends. You don’t have to know much about MLB history or baseball in general to understand a pitcher almost perfectly maximizing each and every pitch to produce those three outs as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Heading into Monday night’s game against a 35-19 Rays team, the three-time All-Star boasted an ERA of 2.09 in 10 games with 56 innings pitched, as well as a WHIP of 0.929. If he keeps it up with innings like this, it might not be long before he finds himself with yet another Cy Young award.