DeGrom reaches 2,000 strikeouts in efficient career run
The Texas Rangers right-hander achieved the milestone in the second-fewest games and innings pitched in league history, trailing only Hall of Famer Randy Johnson and Chris Sale.
Jacob deGrom has reached the 2,000 career strikeout mark, a milestone achieved with notable efficiency in his tenure as a professional pitcher. The Texas Rangers right-hander recorded the final two strikeouts of the threshold by fanning the first two batters he faced against the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.
DeGrom struck out Daylen Lile and Abimelec Ortiz, both of whom chased sliders below the zone for strike three. Following the out, the 38-year-old received a standing ovation from the crowd, which he acknowledged by tapping his cap over his heart.
The achievement places deGrom in elite company regarding the pace at which he accumulated strikeouts. He reached the milestone in the second-fewest games and innings pitched in major league history. Hall of Famer Randy Johnson holds the record for the fewest games to reach 2,000 strikeouts with 262 appearances, while Chris Sale holds the record for the fewest innings at 1,626.
DeGrom made his 272nd career start in this game, having pitched 1,660 one-third innings since his major league debut with the New York Mets in 2014. The two-time Cy Young Award winner is the ninth active player and the 95th in history to reach the 2,000-strikeout threshold.
He is the fourth player to achieve this milestone during the current season, following Kevin Gausman, Sonny Gray, and Aaron Nola. The performance underscores deGrom’s continued dominance on the mound despite his age, cementing his status as one of the most efficient strikeout artists in the sport’s history.
