Jacob deGrom Delivered 30 Starts, Named AL Comeback Player of the Year

ARLINGTON, TX — He's back in elite form.
Texas Rangers right-handed pitcher Jacob deGrom was named the American League Comeback Player of the Year on Thursday night, cementing his return to premier status following elbow surgery. The accolade, announced in conjunction with Major League Baseball, follows his earlier selection for the same honor in the MLB Players Choice awards in October.

The 37-year-old was part of the reason the Rangers had baseball's best rotation this season. Perhaps the most eye-popping stat of his campaign? He made a virtually unimaginable 30 starts.

The Anchor of the Rotation

After battling injuries that wiped out the near-entirety of his first two seasons in Texas, deGrom recertified himself as one of the game's premier arms. He posted a 2.97 ERA—the sixth-lowest among qualified AL starters—across 172 2/3 innings, his highest total since the 2019 season.

Crucially, deGrom avoided the injured list entirely, logging more innings in this single season than in his previous three combined. The team carefully managed his pitch count and workload throughout the season, but the results speak for themselves.

Elite Performance: deGrom's AL Ranks
DeGrom's performance placed him near the top of the leaderboards among all qualified American League pitchers:

ERA (2.97): 6th
Walks (37): 3rd
Strikeouts (185): 10th
Total Hits (122): 1st
WHIP (0.92): 2nd
Opponent's Batting Average (.196): 2nd

The two-time Cy Young Award winner initially underwent elbow surgery after just six appearances two years ago. He sat injured during the club's World Series run, returning to make a symbolic three starts at the tail end of the 2024 season. His full-season dominance in 2025 has fully paid dividends on the five-year, $185 million contract the Rangers signed him to prior to the 2023 season.

deGrom is the third Rangers player to earn the honor in the past decade, joining outfielder Hunter Pence (2019) and first baseman Prince Fielder (2015).

I'm pretty sure that literally no one predicted that deGrom would make 30 starts for the Rangers. Fans are certainly glad the two-time Cy Young winner proved the doubters wrong.