It was a scene straight out of a sports movie. Jacob deGrom, the man, the myth, the legend, was back at Citi Field. But this time, something was… off. He was wearing the wrong uniform. The gray threads with “TEXAS” slapped across the chest just didn’t look right on the guy who for nine years was the king of Queens.
Pre-Game Festivities Set For a Franchise Legend
As he warmed up in the outfield, the giant videoboard flickered to life, and suddenly it was a trip down memory lane. There was the shaggy-haired deGrom, then the clean-cut “Jake,” but the theme was the same: pure, unadulterated dominance. Strikeout after strikeout played out, a highlight reel of his two Cy Young seasons, and for a moment, all was right in the world.
When Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” started blasting through the speakers, the crowd erupted. It was a hero’s welcome. deGrom, caught in the emotion, had to pause his throwing session to tip his cap to the fans who still adored him. “Welcome Back, Jacob,” the screen read. You could almost feel the lump in his throat from the press box.
A Bizarre Twist For deGrom
Then reality hit, and it hit hard. The moment deGrom finally took the mound, the universe decided to play a cruel joke. The pitcher who famously survived on scraps of run support as a Met was gifted a cushy 6-0 lead before he even threw a pitch. A six-run lead! Can you believe it? The baseball gods clearly have a twisted sense of humor.
For two innings, it was classic deGrom. He sliced through the Mets lineup like a hot knife through butter. The fastball, still averaging a blistering 97.5 mph this season, was humming. He blew a 99-mph heater past Brett Baty, and it felt like 2018 all over again.
The Inevitable Return To Earth
But then, the third inning happened. Francisco Alvarez, perhaps tired of the lovefest, jumped on a 98-mph fastball and sent it into the stands. The cracks started to show. A few more hits, a couple of sac flies, and just like that, the lead was trimmed to 6-3.
Watching the Mets’ rookie pitcher Jonah Tong get shelled in the first inning, deGrom stood in the visitor’s dugout looking impatient, hands on his hips. He was once that young kid, a 22-year-old trying to find his way. Now, at 37, with a second Tommy John surgery in his rearview mirror and a $185 million contract, he was the seasoned veteran, the hired gun.
Pete Alonso said it best before the game: “That’s his mound out there.” And it was. deGrom’s 2.12 ERA at Citi Field is the stuff of legend, second only to Sandy Koufax at Dodger Stadium. He was special, a showman, a true ace. Friday night, he was technically the enemy. But for the fans at Citi Field, he was just their guy, back home, even if it was just for one night.
