Rangers' Jacob DeGrom needs only 149 strikeouts to make MLB history

The Texas Rangers are entering the 2026 MLB season with a few incredible pitchers in their starting rotation. Nate Eovaldi is great, and MacKenzie Gore is a fun new face. But, Jacob DeGrom might be the best starter in this rotation.

Last year, he looked closer to his prime self. While there's still a bit of a way to go before being Cy Young caliber like he was with the New York Mets, DeGrom made strides last year and could be even better in 2026.

This upcoming season, as MLB.com's Sarah Langs points out, DeGrom is closing in on a very impressive MLB record. If he can reach 149 strikeouts this season, which is very doable for DeGrom, then he will be the fastest pitcher to record 2,000 strikeouts in a career.

Jacob DeGrom needs 149 Ks to reach 2,000 faster than any pitcher in MLB history

"DeGrom enters with 1,851 career strikeouts in 1,539 2/3 innings," Langs writes. "He is on pace to have among the fewest innings to reach the mark among pitchers who started in at least 50% of their appearances by the time of their 2,000th strikeouts, according to Elias."

With DeGrom only 149 strikeouts away from 2,000 for his career, reaching that figure this season seems doable. But the question will be, if he does reach that number, where does he fall on the all-time MLB leaderboard?

Currently, the fastest pitcher to reach 2,000 strikeouts in a career is Chris Sale, who took 1,696 innings to reach 2,000 strikeouts. Yu Darvish is second with 1,697 1/3 IP, Pedro Martinez third at 1,711 1/3 IP, Gerritt Cole fourth with 1,714 2/3 IP, and Randy Johnson fifth with 1,733 1/3 IP.

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DeGrom is currently at 1,539 2/3 innings pitched, meaning he has 157 1/3 innings to go before he ties Sale's innings total.

If he can reach 149 strikeouts in his first 157 innings pitched this upcoming season, then he will break the MLB record for fastest pitcher to 2,000 strikeouts.

He's more than capable of doing just that, as he's striking out more than one batter per-inning pitched in his career. And last season, he averaged 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings. The worst figure of his career was 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Even if he matches that career-worst season, he would still be able to become the fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 2,000 strikeouts. So, barring a total regression in the strikeout department, DeGrom will break this MLB record.

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