Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom delivered a memorable birthday present for his family Monday night, reaching a career milestone that will forever be tied to his son’s special day.
The veteran right-hander secured his 100th major league victory by throwing five shutout innings in the Rangers’ 2-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals, achieving the feat on his son Nolan’s third birthday.
“It’s really cool,” deGrom said. “As a kid, your goal is to just play major league baseball and for it to become a reality and win 100 games in the major leagues, it’s kind of crazy to think about. Today was Nolan’s third birthday, so I’ll always remember that being my 100th night on his third birthday.”
The two-time Cy Young Award winner had been stuck at 99 victories since his May 10 performance against the Chicago Cubs, where he delivered seven scoreless frames. His pursuit of win number 100 proved challenging, as deGrom struggled through his next three outings, posting an 0-2 record while surrendering 12 runs across 15 innings pitched.
May was particularly difficult for the 37-year-old pitcher, who compiled a 1-3 record with a 5.72 ERA over five starts. However, Monday’s performance marked a return to form as he limited the Cardinals to just four hits while recording eight strikeouts, helping Texas capture their fourth consecutive victory.
“I was trying not to do too much,” deGrom said. “Having the meeting, talking to (catcher) Danny (Jansen) I was like, ‘Hey, tonight we’re hitting the glove as many times as we can. Mechanics are what they are. We’re throwing everything else out the window. We’re going back to how I used to pitch.’”
DeGrom’s professional journey began when he was chosen in the ninth round of the 2010 amateur draft. He made his major league debut with the New York Mets in 2014, earning NL Rookie of the Year honors.
Throughout his career spanning 260 starts, deGrom has compiled a 100-69 record with a 2.61 ERA. However, injuries have limited his availability, as he has reached 30 starts in a season only five times during his first 12 big league campaigns. The 2025 season marked his first time making 30 starts since 2019.
“He’s never really felt 100%,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “I’ve said it before, he should be a Hall of Famer. I think he’s going to be a Hall of Famer. That’s how dominant he’s been throughout his career, and he’s still got a couple of years left in him, too.”
With his milestone achievement, deGrom becomes the 16th active pitcher to reach 100 career wins, following Texas teammate Nathan Eovaldi, who became the 15th on July 30, 2025, against the Los Angeles Angels.
