Jacob deGrom’s rehab start vs. a Single-A team, as seen through the eyes of his opponent

By | May 21, 2021
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Jacob deGrom vs. Single-A hitters was never going to be a fair fight even with deGrom at less than 100 percent. The team he was facing decided to have fun with that.

The Mets’ ace was in Jupiter, Fla., on Thursday night for a rehab start with the low-A St. Lucie Mets vs. the Palm Beach Cardinals. While the Cards’ hitters embraced the challenge of facing a third major leaguer in a row (Seth Lugo and Noah Syndergaard did rehab work Tuesday and Wednesday), the Palm Beach social team embraced the ridiculousness of facing the best of the bunch.

How did deGrom look? Judging from the live tweet, like the best pitcher in baseball facing kids who are barely out of school.

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DeGrom went full-bore in working his way back from tightness in his right side. His fastball was, as they say, crisp:

“Hot” radar gun? It’s deGrom. Probably not.

Confirmation from his mound opponent:

Visual evidence of the heater coming in hot, with commentary:

Yes, the Cardinals did get a baserunner — on an infield error to lead off the first inning. DeGrom did not care about the baserunner, Masyn Winn, who stole second and third. After Wynn reached, deGrom struck out eight of the next nine batters he faced. The only ball put in play in that stretch was a groundout by Jacob Buchberger.

DeGrom threw 41 pitches over three scoreless, hitless innings. The Cardinals were “relieved” that he didn’t take the hill for a fourth inning but instead spent it in the bullpen throwing more pitches:

And, wonder of wonders, deGrom left with a 1-0 lead. No doubt the hitters were energized by the Chick-fil-A pregame meal deGrom reportedly sprung for. St. Lucie went on to win 7-0.

The final score gave Palm Beach social a chance to take one last shot:

The Cards wisely left the meme-ing to other corners of the internet:

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