All the way back as an ace, deGrom earns 5th All-Star nod

SAN DIEGO -- When Jacob deGrom is healthy, he’s one of the best pitchers in the world.

It’s almost no surprise that in his first fully healthy season since 2019, he was named an American League All-Star on Sunday.

“It means a lot,” deGrom said before the Rangers' 4-1 loss to the Padres in the series finale Sunday night at Petco Park. “Anytime you're able to go to the All-Star Game and represent your team, especially coming off my second Tommy John surgery and being in the first [full] year back, it’s a huge accomplishment for me.

“It's a little bit of validation, but you still got to be out there and pitch well in the second half. Like I said, it's a huge honor. Coming back from a major surgery, there is some unknown. I'm fortunate enough to be able to throw the ball pretty well. I'm just thankful to be able to be back out there on a Major League mound.”

deGrom is the 25th Rangers pitcher to be named to the All-Star team. This also marks the sixth consecutive All-Star Game in which Texas had a pitcher selected to the AL roster, which is the longest span in club history.

Texas has had more pitchers selected to the All-Star Game in the past 15 opportunities since 2010 (18) than in the first 38 years of Rangers history (16).

deGrom, now a five-time All-Star, has been the ace of a Rangers rotation that has been one of the best in baseball in 2025. Texas’ 3.21 rotation ERA entering Sunday was the lowest in MLB. The starters’ mark of 36 quality starts ranked fifth in the AL, while the rotation also boasted an opponent slash line of .222/.283/.348 to lead MLB in opponent OBP, slugging and OPS (.630).

deGrom is, obviously, a big reason for all of that. His 2.13 ERA ranks fourth in baseball among qualified starters, while his 0.89 WHIP ranks third. His .191 opponents' batting average is tied for fifth.

The only pitcher in franchise history (minimum 100 innings) with a lower ERA than deGrom’s 2.13 figure at the All-Star break was Rick Honeycutt in 1983 (1.52). DeGrom's current 0.89 WHIP would be lowest ever by a Ranger at the break (minimum 100 innings).

“I think as much as anything with Jacob, he's just so happy that he feels good,” said Rangers manager Bruce Bochy. “That's what I think excites him. The talent, obviously, is there. It’s a tough road. He was trying to pitch through some pain and some issues and got it fixed. Now he's back having fun playing the game. I think it's exciting for him and us to see him after having to deal with those little issues.”

Long story short, deGrom has looked like the best version of himself lately. He made only nine starts through his first two seasons with Texas due to Tommy John surgery in June 2023. He had only 38 starts over the previous three years before joining the Rangers -- which included the COVID-shortened 2020 season and a number of injuries from 2021-22.

“I think it's a pat on the back, not only to Jacob deGrom but to Dr. Keith Meister, the man behind the scenes that put him back together,” said pitching coach Mike Maddux. “A healthy deGrom is one of the best in the game. I think he's shown this year that he's got his stuff back, and I'm glad he's on our side.”

deGrom's 101 1/3 innings this season are already more than he has thrown in any season since 2019, when he won his second consecutive Cy Young Award with the Mets after posting a 2.43 ERA in 204 innings.

“You miss this game,” deGrom said of missing so much time. “We give everything to play this game, and then when you're sidelined for quite some time, it's not fun. To be able to be able to get back out there and compete, that's what we want to do. We want to stay out there. Now the goal is to just try to continue to do that and take the ball as much as I can, come back and pitch this well again.”