The Texas Rangers' 2025 Season: A Tale of Resilience and Controversy
The 2025 season has concluded, and it's time to reflect on the Texas Rangers' journey. But let's focus on a player who defied the odds: Jacob deGrom.
When the Rangers signed deGrom after the 2022 season, the baseball world was skeptical. The narrative surrounding deGrom's durability was a hot topic, with many predicting he wouldn't last a full season. And yet, in 2025, he made 30 starts, silencing some of his critics.
Here's where it gets intriguing: From 2017 to 2020, deGrom was a workhorse, ranking among the top starters in MLB with 107 starts. But then, a peculiar twist of fate. In 2021, he delivered a remarkable 1.08 ERA in 15 starts, only to follow it up with just 11 starts in 2022. The public's perception shifted, and deGrom's reliability came into question.
The controversy deepened in 2023 and 2024 when deGrom underwent his second Tommy John surgery, making only 9 starts for the Rangers. The doubters were proven right, but only temporarily. Fast forward to 2025, and deGrom bounced back with 30 starts and 172 innings, addressing immediate concerns about his health.
But was he truly back to his best? Well, that's the million-dollar question. deGrom's 2.97 ERA in 2025 was impressive, ranking 13th among pitchers with at least 150 innings. However, his ERA+ of 123 placed him 21st, and his 2.9 bWAR tied him for 27th. These stats leave room for debate.
Digging deeper, deGrom's strikeout rate in 2025 was excellent at 27.7%, but it didn't reach the otherworldly heights of his 2021 season. His walk rate was also impressive, and the combination of the two is a rare feat. Yet, his velocity showed a slight decline from his Mets days, though he remains one of the game's hardest throwers.
And here's where it gets controversial: deGrom struggled with allowing loud contact and home runs in 2025, posting the highest HR/9 rate of his career. This issue became more pronounced in the latter part of the season, with his ERA and FIP rising significantly.
So, was this a cause for concern or just a blip in an otherwise remarkable comeback? Could it be attributed to fatigue after Tommy John surgery? These questions linger as we anticipate deGrom's performance in 2026.
What's your take on Jacob deGrom's 2025 season? Was he an ace or a solid mid-rotation starter? And what do you predict for his future with the Rangers? Share your thoughts and join the conversation!
