DeGrom is second-fastest pitcher to reach 1,500 strikeouts

Jacob deGrom is on track to win a third career Cy Young. Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Mets' Jacob deGrom becomes second-fastest pitcher to reach 1,500 career strikeouts

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Jul 7, 2021 4:18 PM ET

New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom may not be in the running to earn National League Most Valuable Player Award honors by the time late September arrives, but he's nevertheless on track to win a third career Cy Young.

He added to his Hall of Fame resume during the Wednesday afternoon home game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field.

In the top of the fourth inning, deGrom became the second-fastest pitcher in history to record his 1,500th career MLB strikeout:

Congrats to Jacob deGrom on 1,500 career strikeouts

He's the second-fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 1,500 Ks, behind Yu Darvish. pic.twitter.com/h0WVv1uQEb
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 7, 2021

As AJ Cassavell noted for the MLB website, Yu Darvish of the San Diego Padres set the current mark in June when he hit 1,500 career strikeouts in 197 games. ESPN Stats & Info added:

Jacob deGrom recorded his 1,500th strikeout today.

He reached the mark in just 198 games, passing Randy Johnson (206 games) for the 2nd-fastest in MLB history.

Only Yu Darvish has reached 1,500 strikeouts faster (197 games), setting the record last month. pic.twitter.com/VL61RpfUVg
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) July 7, 2021

It wasn't a perfect outing for deGrom, however, as the Brewers became the first team to hit multiple homers off the right-hander this season:

A from Jace for the lead!

The Brew Crew's the first team to hit multiple homers in a game off deGrom this season.#ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/ZVwS7B49Gi
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 7, 2021

The 33-year-old remains responsible for several other ridiculous stats that won't be matched by anyone else this year:

lol pic.twitter.com/G5M1HfVs3W
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 7, 2021

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

More must-reads: