For the first time since departing for Texas after the 2022 season, Jacob deGrom is set to face his former team. The 37-year-old right-hander has been listed as the probable starter for Friday night’s series opener at Citi Field, where the Rangers will begin a crucial three-game Interleague set against the New York Mets.
The game marks a symbolic return for deGrom, who spent the first nine seasons of his Major League career in Queens and rose to become one of the most accomplished pitchers in franchise history. Drafted by the Mets in the ninth round in 2010, deGrom developed into a two-time Cy Young Award winner and four-time All-Star, as well as the 2014 National League Rookie of the Year.
Friday’s matchup carries added weight, as both the Mets and Rangers remain firmly in the mix for Wild Card spots in their respective leagues. New York is expected to send rookie right-hander Jonah Tong to the mound, a promising 22-year-old and the team’s No. 4 overall prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Tong will be making just the third start of his young career.
While deGrom’s Mets legacy is undeniable, his transition to Texas has been marked by both immense expectations and frustrating setbacks. Elbow injuries limited him to only nine starts across the first two seasons of his five-year, $185 million deal. But now healthy, he appears to have returned to elite form in 2025.
This season, deGrom has made 27 starts for the Rangers and posted a 2.78 ERA, striking out 169 batters while issuing just 35 walks over 155 2/3 innings. His ability to stay on the field and perform at a high level has been a major boost for a Texas rotation looking to repeat as contenders.
Though deGrom did return to New York earlier this year—starting a game at Yankee Stadium on May 21—Friday will mark his first time pitching at Citi Field as a visiting player. The stadium was his professional home for nearly a decade, and he enters the outing with a sparkling 2.12 career ERA over 109 regular-season starts in Flushing.
For fans in Queens, the sight of deGrom on the Citi Field mound in a different uniform is sure to stir a mix of emotions—nostalgia, admiration, and perhaps even what-if reflections. But for deGrom and the Rangers, Friday represents something more pragmatic: a pivotal game in the playoff hunt and another step in the veteran’s ongoing resurgence.
