Jacob deGrom becomes fastest MLB righty to reach 2,000 strikeouts
Jacob deGrom becomes fastest MLB righty to reach 2,000 strikeouts
Zach Allen, Daytona Beach News-JournalFri, August 21, 2026 at 9:16 PM UTC
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Former Stetson pitcher and current Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom threw his 2,000th career strikeout in a 2-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Aug. 20.
deGrom hit his latest milestone in the top of the first inning, when he struck out Washington’s Daylen Lile and Abimelec Ortiz to open the game. The pair of Ks began a 10-strikeout night for deGrom.
He became the 95th member of the MLB’s 2,000-strikeout club, doing so in the second-fewest games. He completed the feat in 1,661 innings and 272 games, only trailing Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale’s 1,627 innings and Hall of Famer Randy Johnson’s 262 games.
Sale and Johnson are both left-handed, making deGrom the fastest righty to reach the milestone.
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deGrom has tossed 157 Ks in 126⅔ innings for the Rangers this season as they chase an American League West title.
He started his quest for 2,000 strikeouts when the Mets selected him in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB Draft. The DeLand native played for Stetson from 2008-10, originally joining the Hatters as a shortstop before transitioning to the mound.
The switch has been fruitful for deGrom, as the two-time Cy Young winner has added another bullet point to his resumé.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Jacob deGrom becomes fastest MLB righty to reach 2,000 strikeouts
Source: “AOL Sports”
