SEATTLE – Jacob deGrom of the Texas Rangers made history by becoming the fastest pitcher to reach 1,800 career strikeouts in Major League Baseball. He achieved this milestone during a game against the Seattle Mariners.
In the second inning, deGrom struck out J.P. Crawford with a powerful 98.7 mph fastball. This strikeout marked his fourth K of the game and brought his career total to 1,800, doing so in just 240 games and 1,493.1 innings pitched.
This record breaks the previous benchmarks set by baseball legends. Randy Johnson took 243 games to reach 1,800 strikeouts, while Chris Sale needed 1,498 innings to achieve the same.
Despite this achievement, deGrom’s performance had ups and downs. He ended the game with five strikeouts but also gave up three home runs and five earned runs over five innings. It was his first time allowing multiple home runs in a game since last season while he was still with the New York Mets.
DeGrom, a five-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner, signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers before the 2023 season. However, he has faced challenges with injuries, managing only nine starts in two seasons.
His record-breaking strikeout also comes at a time when statistics show how valuable strikeout pitchers are in today’s game. According to a recent survey by MLB, strikeouts are at an all-time high, making deGrom’s achievement even more impressive. Baseball fans online have been buzzing about deGrom’s performance, showcasing a mix of admiration and concern over his injury history.
As baseball continues to evolve, records like deGrom’s remind us of the blend of talent, hard work, and perseverance that define great athletes.
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