When Jacob deGrom walked off the mound last season clutching his arm, the collective sigh from Texas was almost instinctive. The Rangers had invested heavily in a generational ace, but fate seemed determined to keep deGrom trapped in a cycle of brilliance and breakdown. Another surgery, another long rehab, another uncertain future. For many, it felt like the story was writing itself again.
But deGrom had other plans.
Months later, he returned not only to the mound but to form — the kind of dominating, razor-sharp form that once made him the most feared pitcher in baseball. And now, the 36-year-old right-hander has been rewarded with the MLB Comeback Player of the Year award, a testament to both his perseverance and the organization’s unwavering belief in him.
His comeback wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t overnight. It was a slow, methodical climb built on patience, discipline, and an almost stubborn refusal to accept decline. Rangers trainers often spoke about deGrom’s meticulous routine, the way he treated every bullpen session like a postseason inning. For deGrom, returning wasn’t about proving doubters wrong — it was about proving to himself that he could still be the pitcher he once was.
And when he finally returned to the rotation, everything looked familiar again. The fastball exploded at the top of the zone. The slider snapped with late bite. Hitters swung under pitches they once swore they could track. Arlington erupted each time his name was announced, as if welcoming back a long-lost hero.
But what made this comeback meaningful wasn’t just the numbers — though they were impressive. It was the emotional weight behind them. For the Rangers, deGrom’s presence stabilized the rotation at a time when the team desperately needed leadership. For his teammates, his work ethic served as a blueprint for how to handle adversity. And for fans, he became a symbol of hope in a sport where narratives often turn cruel.
Manager Bruce Bochy summed it up best earlier this fall: “He didn’t owe anyone anything. But he wanted this. He earned this. And we all felt the energy shift when he walked back onto that field.”
What makes deGrom’s award even more remarkable is how close he came to never being in this position. Elbow injuries have derailed countless careers. Many pitchers never return the same — some never return at all. But deGrom’s recovery revealed something deeper about him. For years, he had been defined by his dominance. This season, he was defined by his resilience.
The award doesn’t erase the frustration of past seasons, nor does it guarantee smooth sailing ahead. But for one night — and for this moment — Jacob deGrom gets to be celebrated not for what he used to be, but for what he fought to become again.
And for the Rangers, it feels like the beginning of a new chapter. The kind that might finally match the hopes they once placed on their ace.
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