5 Best Jacob deGrom Moments to Remember the Anniversary of Mets Drafting Him

The minds of New York Mets fans were undoubtedly rattled on Monday when it was reported that the club is pondering a reunion with Matt Harvey. When you consider the significance of today's date as it pertains to Mets history, fans in Queens should be living on cloud nine. After all, it was on this date 10 years ago that the franchise nabbed Jacob deGrom in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB Draft.

The 31-year-old right-hander has been a rare bright spot during what has otherwise been a decade of mediocrity for the Mets. To honor the anniversary of his MLB Draft selection, it's only fitting that we take a look back at some of his greatest moments in New York.

5. Rookie of the Year Award

We couldn't mention the greatest moments of deGrom's career in Queens without showing some love to the feat that really set the stage for his run of dominance in a Mets uniform. The former Stetson University shortstop made a strong recovery from Tommy John Surgery at 22 years old in 2012, and, less than two years later, he emerged as a stud on New York's rotation. Across 22 starts, deGrom finished 9-6 alongside a 2.69 ERA, 144 strikeouts and a 1.140 WHIP. He went on to earn 26 of 30 first place votes for the 2014 Rookie of the Year Award. Somehow, then-Cincinnati Reds speedster Billy Hamilton robbed him of a unanimous triumph.

4. First All-Star Nod in 2015

Yup, deGrom followed up his Rookie of the Year campaign with his first career All-Star nod the very next season in 2015. In 30 starts, he racked up 14 wins to go alongside a 2.54 ERA and 205 strikeouts. The budding right-hander didn't take the appearance for granted, either, as he needed just 10 pitches to strike out the side in order in the sixth inning, falling just one pitch shy of the rare immaculate inning. It was at this moment that the MLB was put on notice and learned of deGrom's untapped potential.

3. Second Consecutive NL Cy Young

Last season, deGrom overcame tremendous odds to become the 11th pitcher in MLB history to win consecutive Cy Young awards. The three-time All-Star got off to a slow start, but his final numbers wouldn't suggest that. He only won 11 games, but recorded a 2.43 ERA, a 0.971 WHIP and a league-leading 255 strikeouts. It would be foolish to count him out as the favorite to hoist the hardware for the third year in a row.

2. Quality Starts Streak

Why does this feat get the nod over deGrom's second straight Cy Young award? Because without it, he probably wouldn't have won it. The Mets star compiled a mind-boggling 26 consecutive quality starts last season, which tied the MLB record set by Hall of Fame hurler Bob Gibson back in 1968. For context, deGrom made 32 starts last year. During the streak, he registered a 1.55 ERA, 247 strikeouts and held opponents to a .193 batting average. Take a bow, No. 48.

1. First NL Cy Young

There was really no other choice for the No. 1 spot. In 2018, deGrom put together one of the greatest single seasons by a pitcher in baseball history. Putting his 10-9 record aside, the three-time All-Star led the league with a 1.70 ERA and 1.98 FIP. He also logged 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings and a 0.192 WHIP while embarrassing some of the game's most accomplished hitters along the way. It's scary to think what deGrom could've accomplished at this point in his career if the Mets weren't holding him back.