Way back in spring training, James McCann had just signed with the Mets and had to learn how to work with a new rotation. After getting to know his new teammates, he was asked to discuss Jacob deGrom, and he offered a statement that was both true at the time and incredibly prophetic, “He’s mastered a craft that few can master.”
That statement was deGrom’s injury-shorted 2021 in a nutshell. He came to spring training already throwing 100mph and was in peak form before the season even started. He was the obvious choice to be the Opening Day starter but unfortunately that was delayed when the Nationals came down with COVID.