The Unconventional Path of a Two‑Time Cy Young Winner

Jacob deGrom’s career reads like a baseball paradox. He is a two‑time Cy Young Award winner who established himself as one of the most dominant starting pitchers of his generation, yet his journey includes a brief but revealing stint as a closer. This chapter in his career—transitioning from an elite starter to a high‑leverage reliever and then back to the rotation—offers a rare lens through which to examine the physical and mental demands of pitching at the highest level. More than a mere footnote, deGrom’s role shift raises questions about pitcher versatility, injury management, and the evolving definition of greatness in modern baseball.

His fastball routinely sits at 96–99 mph and has touched 102 mph when he needed an extra gear. His slider is a wipeout pitch, and his changeup complements a repertoire that has baffled hitters for nearly a decade. Yet even a pitcher of his caliber cannot escape the realities of a 162‑game season. When the New York Mets moved him to the closer’s slot late in 2021, it was a strategic decision driven by both his health and the team’s immediate needs. That move, and his subsequent return to starting, provides a blueprint for how elite arms can be deployed flexibly without sacrificing long‑term effectiveness.

The Starting Pitcher Archetype: Endurance, Dominance, and Toll

deGrom’s Rise as a Frontline Starter

Debuting with the Mets in 2014, deGrom quickly ascended to the top tier of major‑league starters. Over his first five full seasons, he posted a 2.62 ERA with 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings, capturing the Cy Young Award in 2018 and 2019. His arsenal—a blistering four‑seam fastball, a devastating slider, and a changeup—allowed him to dominate lineups for six or seven innings, often exceeding 100 pitches. As a starter, his primary responsibility was to control the game from the first pitch, manage multiple times through the order, and rely on pitch sequencing to keep hitters off balance.

The physical demands of starting are immense. Starters must pace themselves over nine innings, manage pitch counts, and adjust to hitters who see them repeatedly. Recovery requires a rigorous routine of bullpen sessions, stretching, and conditioning. For deGrom, whose explosive delivery already placed significant strain on his elbow and shoulder, maintaining that workload over a full season was a constant battle. His injury history—including elbow and shoulder issues—highlighted the toll that starting takes on the body, eventually prompting the team to experiment with a different role.

The Closer’s Mindset: Intensity, Finality, and Short‑Burst Excellence

deGrom’s Brief but Memorable Stint as a Closer

In September 2021, the Mets shifted deGrom to the closer role late in the season—a move driven both by his injury management and the team’s need for a reliable ninth‑inning option. Over a handful of appearances, he converted three saves while striking out nine batters in 4⅔ innings, allowing no earned runs. His fastball touched 102 mph, and he deployed his slider with maximum velocity, knowing he would only need to face two or three batters. The closer role demands a completely different mindset: enter with the game on the line, pitch at maximum effort for a short burst, and trust that your best stuff is good enough to overpower hitters who have already seen the starter for six frames.

This transition is not unprecedented. Dennis Eckersley famously transformed from a starter to a Hall of Fame closer, while John Smoltz made a successful shift for the Atlanta Braves in 2001, saving 55 games before returning to the rotation. deGrom’s case is especially compelling because he moved from ace starter to closer and back within a single calendar year. His raw stuff was clearly suited for the ninth inning, but the mental and physical adjustments required a different kind of discipline.

Why Starters Sometimes Move to the Bullpen

Historically, starters have moved to the bullpen for various reasons: injury recovery, team needs, or a decline in stamina. For deGrom, the move was temporary and strategic—a way to preserve his arm while still contributing at a high level. However, the transition is not always seamless. Starters accustomed to a five‑day routine and a pitch count of 90–100 must adjust to daily availability and the mental pressure of high‑leverage situations. Sports psychologist Dr. Michael Gervais notes, “Closers must have a short memory because every pitch can decide the game. Starters can afford to make a mistake in the first inning and recover; closers have no such margin.” deGrom’s calm demeanor helped him adapt, but even he admitted the role required a focus that could be mentally draining over a long season.

The Transition: From Starter to Closer—Mental and Physical Adjustments

Psychological Shift

Switching from starter to closer requires a fundamental psychological reorientation. As a starter, deGrom controlled the game’s pace from the first pitch, building rhythm through innings. As a closer, he had to enter the game cold, often with runners on base and the crowd roaring. The pressure is immediate and intense. Every pitch becomes a potential game‑decider. That short‑burst mentality can be liberating for some pitchers, but it also demands a level of focus that is hard to sustain over a full season when you might not pitch for days at a time.

deGrom’s competitive fire helped him embrace the new role. In interviews, he described the experience as “refreshing” because it allowed him to “just go out there and let it eat” without worrying about pitch counts or setting up a third time through the order. Yet even he acknowledged the challenge of staying prepared for sporadic usage, which required adjustments to his warm‑up routine and between‑inning habits.

Pitching Approach and Mechanics

On the mound, the approach changes drastically. Starters typically use a diverse pitch mix—fastballs, off‑speed, and breaking balls—to keep hitters guessing. They focus on pitch economy and sequencing. Closers, by contrast, often rely on one or two elite pitches thrown at maximum effort. deGrom’s fastball‑slider combination was perfectly suited for the closer role: he could simply blow hitters away with velocity and movement, without worrying about setting up a third or fourth time through the order.

This required changes to his warm‑up routine. Instead of throwing long bullpen sessions to build stamina, he focused on shorter, explosive bullpens that mimicked game intensity. He also had to adjust his between‑inning habits, because as a closer he might only throw once every two or three days. The physical adjustment included shortening his throwing sessions and emphasizing explosive delivery over endurance. That shift may have actually helped his arm by reducing cumulative fatigue, a factor that became important when he eventually returned to the rotation.

Returning to the Rotation: Rebuilding Stamina and Routine

Challenges of Reversing the Transition

After his brief closer stint, deGrom returned to the starting rotation for the 2022 season. But reversing the transition is not as simple as flipping a switch. The body must rebuild the capacity to throw 90–100 pitches every fifth day, manage longer outings, and again face batters multiple times. deGrom’s spring training preparation had to account for the lost endurance. He spent extra time on long‑toss programs and bullpen sessions to rebuild his arm strength. Early in the season, he showed signs of rust—his command was slightly off, and his velocity, while still elite, averaged a tick lower than his closer appearances.

Over the course of the year, however, he worked back to form, posting a 2.10 ERA with a strikeout rate over 12 per nine innings in 13 starts before another injury limited him. His fastball velocity remained high even in the later innings of his starts, suggesting that the closing experience had actually helped him rediscover his explosive mechanics. Many analysts noted that his time as a closer may have improved his starting performance by sharpening his ability to execute under extreme pressure and teaching him to trust his best pitches in critical situations.

“When you close, you learn that every pitch is a potential game‑decider,” deGrom said in a postgame interview. “Bringing that mindset back to starting has made me more aggressive early in counts.” That aggressiveness translated into a slightly higher strikeout rate and a lower walk rate in his first few starts back, as he relied more heavily on his fastball and slider rather than trying to set up hitters with secondary pitches.

Broader Implications: Versatility in Modern Baseball

Historical Precedents and Lessons

deGrom’s unique career arc fits into a larger pattern of pitcher versatility in baseball history. Dennis Eckersley is the most famous example: after 12 years as a solid starter, he became the dominant closer of the late 1980s and 1990s. John Smoltz made a successful shift from starter to closer for the Braves in 2001, then moved back to the rotation. More recently, pitchers like Aroldis Chapman and Matt Moore have switched roles with varying degrees of success. deGrom’s case is rarer because he moved from ace starter to closer and back within a short timeframe, demonstrating that even a pitcher at the top of his game can adapt.

This flexibility benefits teams, allowing them to maximize a pitcher’s impact during injuries or roster shortages without sacrificing long‑term development. As baseball evolves, with openers, tandem starters, and bullpen games becoming more common, the ability to switch roles effectively will become an even more valuable asset. deGrom’s experience provides a blueprint for the next generation of pitchers and for front offices looking to get the most out of their talent.

Conclusion: Lessons from deGrom’s Journey

Jacob deGrom’s transition from starter to closer and back is more than a footnote in his career—it is a masterclass in adaptability. For aspiring pitchers, the key takeaways are clear: develop a diverse pitch mix that can work in different contexts, maintain mental toughness regardless of the inning, and be willing to trust your training when your role changes. For coaches and front offices, deGrom’s path offers evidence that elite talent can be deployed flexibly, especially when injury management or team needs require creative thinking.

Ultimately, deGrom’s legacy will be defined by his dominance on the mound—his two Cy Young Awards, his electric fastball, and his relentless competitiveness. But the chapter that saw him close out games with the same flair that he started them adds depth to that narrative. It reminds us that greatness in baseball is not always about staying in one lane, but about the willingness to adapt, evolve, and excel in whatever role the game demands. As he continues his career with the Texas Rangers after signing a five‑year, $185 million contract, deGrom remains a compelling case study in the art of pitching across roles.

Baseball Reference – Jacob deGrom: career statistics and splits.
Fangraphs – Jacob deGrom: advanced metrics and pitch data.
MLB.com – deGrom’s move to closer explained: detailed report on his role shift.