Jacob deGrom

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked New York Mets #10 prospect in 2014
  DeGrom began his college career as the starting shortstop for Stetson before transitioning to the mound as a junior, first serving as closer before moving into the rotation down the stretch in 2010. He has completed four levels of the full-season minors in two years, after missing the entire 2011 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery he had the previous fall. DeGrom succeeds by pounding the zone and showing a clean arm action and bulldog mentality. He threw nearly two-thirds of his pitches for strikes in 2013, though he would benefit form expanding the zone and getting batters to chase when he gets ahead in the count. He sits at 92-94 mph with plus sinking life, and he can rear back for 98 when he needs it. DeGrom made progress with a straight changeup this season, giving him a good weapon against lefties, though he misses more bats against righties with a fastball and slurvy breaking ball. He's working on improving the rotation and bite of his breaking ball. After logging a combined 148 innings in 2013, deGrom has put his surgery completely behind him. An offseason addition to the 40-man roster, he likely will begin 2014 at Triple-A Las Vegas, flying standby for the big league rotation. He has a ceiling as a No. 4 starter or better.
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  Ranked New York Mets #11 prospect in 2013
  DeGrom began his college career at Stetson as the starting shortstop, but he finished his time with the Hatters as the club's No. 1 starter. He first took the mound during his junior year, beginning as closer but moving into the rotation down the stretch out of necessity. He had Tommy John surgery just a few months after signing for $95,000 as a ninth-rounder in 2010 and missed all of the following season. DeGrom appeared no worse for the time off while making his full-season debut in 2012. His athleticism and clean arm action encourage scouts that he can refine his secondary pitches and stay in a starting role. His fastball is plenty good already. DeGrom carries 93-95 mph velocity through six innings, tops out at 98 and features solid sinking life. He creates good angle and plane and has no trouble throwing strikes, as evidenced by his rate of 1.6 walks per nine innings last year. His slider could develop into a plus weapon if he succeeds in getting more lateral break on the pitch. That's a possibility because he generates plenty of tight spin now. He'll need to continue honing his feel for a changeup. Though he's much less experienced than the typical 24-year-old pitching prospect, deGrom's feel for a sinker and slider make him a potential No. 3 or 4 starter. He may begin 2013 in high Class A, but look for him to receive ample Double-A experience during the year.