Texas Rangers star Jacob deGrom achieved a major milestone in MLB history during a game against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
DeGrom reached his 1,800th career strikeout in the second inning by striking out Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford with a 98.7 mph pitch, marking his fourth strikeout of the game.
DeGrom set a new record as the fastest player to reach 1,800 strikeouts, accomplishing the feat in just 240 games and 1,493.1 innings pitched.
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, #48, throws during the first inning against the Athletics at Globe Life Field. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)
DeGrom, 37, surpassed Hall of Famer Randy Johnson’s record, who took 243 games to reach 1,800 strikeouts. In terms of innings, Atlanta Braves’ ace Chris Sale needed 1,498 innings to reach the milestone.
Despite making history, DeGrom’s performance on the night was mixed. He ended the game after five innings with five strikeouts, three walks, and allowing five earned runs in a 5-4 loss.
DeGrom’s career has been marked by dominance, winning back-to-back Cy Young Awards in 2018 and 2019. However, injuries have plagued him in recent years, limiting his playing time.
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, #48, throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park. (John Froschauer/Imagn Images)
Despite his setbacks, DeGrom has shown glimpses of his prime form this season, living up to the expectations set when he signed with the Rangers. His performance this year has been promising, even with occasional rough outings like the one on Sunday night.
