Mets' Jacob deGrom Announces He Won't Participate in 2021 MLB All-Star Game

Blake SchusterContributor IJuly 7, 2021

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom (48) reacts as he leaves the field after the fifth inning of the first baseball game of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers, Wednesday, July 7, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

The best pitcher in baseball has taken himself out of the MLB All-Star Game.

Following seven innings of four-hit ball with 10 strikeouts and two earned runs in a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom confirmed he will not pitch in the All-Star Game at Coors Field in Colorado next week.

Anthony DiComo @AnthonyDiComo
Jacob deGrom says officially that he will not participate in the All-Star Game regardless of whether he pitches again this Sunday. He hopes that Taijuan Walker is able to take his place.

Bob Nightengale @BNightengale
Jacob deGrom could, of course, still attend the All-Star Game festivities, but wants to stay home and rest for the second half. "It's not beneficial for me to fly to Colorado and back.''

DeGrom ends the first half of his season with an impeccable 1.08 ERA and 0.54 WHIP in 92 innings with 146 strikeouts. He's on pace for the best statistical season by a pitcher in MLB history.

MLB Now @MLBNow
.<a href="https://twitter.com/jaysonst?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jaysonst</a> crunched the numbers. Here’s what he thinks deGrom would need to do to best Bob Gibson’s 1.12. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLBNow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLBNow</a> <a href="https://t.co/drXEgqM7e5">pic.twitter.com/drXEgqM7e5</a>

This season marks the fourth time deGrom has been named to the All-Star Game (2015, 2018, 2019, 2021). In his previous three appearances at the Midsummer Classic, the righty has tossed three innings, allowing one hit, one earned run and striking out five of the 10 batters he's faced.

Yet there's little reward for deGrom pitching in the exhibition this year considering how many innings he's already thrown, not to mention various injury scares.

The 33-year-old has already missed time with shoulder soreness and forearm tightness at different points during the first half of the season. Pitching at the All-Star Game—even just for an inning or two—doesn't seem worth risking a return of either ailment. At least that's how deGrom sees it.

Jeff Passan @JeffPassan
On one hand, it’s a bummer Jacob deGrom won’t be at the All-Star Game. He’s the best pitcher in the world, and seeing him let it eat for an inning would’ve been great. On the other hand, the baseball season is very long and DeGrom has missed time with injuries. Understandable.

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In any case, he's more than happy to step aside and help teammate Taijuan Walker get an opportunity to appear in his first All-Star Game as a replacement. Having tossed 85 innings with a 2.44 ERA, 1.01 WHIP and 87 strikeouts, the Mets starter has earned it.