Stetson alumnus and DeLand-native Jacob DeGrom has established himself as the New York Mets’ ace as they enter the World Series.
The New York Mets reached the World Series earlier this week after sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the National League Championship Series. On the mound to start Game Three was Jacob DeGrom, a Stetson alumnus and the first Hatter to reach the World Series.
DeGrom pitched seven innings, giving up two earned runs and four hits while striking out seven hitters in the win over the Cubs. He added two wins in the five-game series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round. He has pitched 20.0 innings, giving up just four earned runs and and 15 hits against 27 strikeouts in his first career postseason appearance.
The Mets’ ace has firmly established himself and he is expected to pitch Game Two after pitching on shortened rest to close out the series.
For the Stetson family it is a proud moment, as coach Pete Dunn told Saul Saenz of News Channel 13:
“To say proud, that’s probably an understatement. [. . .] I’m looking forward to, after the Mets win the World Championship and he wins the games in the World Series, he comes back and we’ll sit down and chat.”
DeGrom is going to be inducted into the Stetson athletics hall of fame Nov. 13.
DeGrom was born in DeLand and spent two years at Stetson, mostly as a shortstop. In his 2009 sophomore season, he had an eight-game hit streak and a .258 batting average. At that point, he left Stetson when the Mets drafted in him in the ninth round of the 2010 amateur draft. He converted full time to a pitcher in the rookie leagues and began climbing his way up to the Majors.
He burst onto the scene this year after winning Rookie of the Year in 2014. He went 14-8 with a 2.54 ERA and 205 strikeouts, earning his first All Star appearance in the process.
It was quite a strange road for DeGrom to get to the World Series and potentially be New York’s ace. He made it all there from humble Central Florida beginnings.
