Rangers’ Jacob deGrom Reflects on Return to Citi Field
Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom made an emotional return to Citi Field on Friday night, facing his former team, the New York Mets. The Rangers came away with an 8-3 win, with deGrom allowing three earned runs over seven innings.
After the game, the 37-year-old shared his thoughts on stepping back onto the mound where he built his legacy.
“It was really cool,” deGrom said via MLB.com’s Bill Ladson. “This is where it all started, and coming back here felt really special. I’m thankful to the Mets for playing that tribute video. These fans were great to me when I was here, and that was a really nice thing to do.”
The Mets honored deGrom with a tribute video recognizing his achievements during his time in New York. From 2016 to 2022, he won two National League Cy Young Awards and a Rookie of the Year title, becoming one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers. Though he never captured a championship with the Mets, he helped lead the team through several competitive seasons.
Now with Texas, deGrom is proving he can still perform at an elite level. He earned his first All-Star nod as a Ranger this season and currently holds a 2.82 ERA with 171 strikeouts across 28 starts.
The Rangers, sitting at 78-70, remain in the thick of both the AL West and Wild Card races. Once viewed as a lost season, 2025 has turned into a playoff push, with deGrom again playing a key role in his team’s success.
Texas and New York will meet again on Saturday afternoon at 4:10 PM EST.
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