Jacob deGrom Hits 2,000 Strikeouts in 1,660 1/3 Innings Against Washington

Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom became the second-fastest pitcher in MLB history to reach 2,000 strikeouts by fanning Abimelec Ortiz on Thursday.

Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom recorded his 2,000th career strikeout during the first inning of Thursday night’s game by punching out Washington’s Abimelec Ortiz. The 38-year-old right-hander reached the milestone in 1,660 1/3 innings, making him the second-fastest player in Major League Baseball history to hit the mark based on innings pitched. He secured the feat in his 272nd career start, having fanned the first two batters of the contest to move past Yu Darvish, who previously held the second-place spot at 1,697 1/3 innings. Chris Sale remains the all-time leader in this category, having reached the plateau in 1,626 innings.

Prior to the start of Thursday's action, deGrom had tallied 147 strikeouts across 120 2/3 innings during the 2026 season. By reaching this statistical landmark, he becomes the 94th pitcher in MLB history and the ninth active player to join the 2,000-strikeout club. He follows Kevin Gausman, Sonny Gray, and Aaron Nola as the fourth pitcher to achieve the milestone within the current calendar year. While deGrom ranks second in efficiency by innings, Hall of Famer Randy Johnson maintains the record for the fewest games required, hitting the mark in his 262nd appearance, followed by Clayton Kershaw at 277 games.

Historical Context and Career Milestones

The two-time Cy Young Award winner debuted in the big leagues in 2014 and earned his back-to-back honors with the New York Mets in 2018 and 2019. During the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, he led the National League in strikeouts for the second consecutive season. However, his path to 2,000 was slowed by a series of significant injuries that limited him to just 35 total starts between 2021 and 2024. After signing with Texas, he made only six starts in his inaugural season before undergoing elbow surgery that sidelined him for the majority of the 2023 and 2024 schedules.

Active and All-Time Strikeout Leaders

Justin Verlander currently stands as the active leader in the category with 3,554 strikeouts. At 43 years old, the Detroit pitcher is the oldest player in the majors and has announced his retirement following the conclusion of this season. Verlander’s 2026 campaign has been restricted to a single start on March 30 due to left hip inflammation and a subsequent left hamstring strain suffered during a mid-June bullpen session. He currently sits eighth on the all-time list, trailing Hall of Famer Don Sutton by 20 strikeouts for the seventh position.

The Standard of Excellence

Nolan Ryan remains the all-time strikeout king, retiring in 1993 at age 46 with 5,714 strikeouts accumulated over 27 seasons. In comparison to the historical greats, deGrom’s pace places him among the elite, despite his recent injury history. The Rangers starter now joins a list of active veterans who have maintained high strikeout rates over a decade of play. His achievement on Thursday night against Washington marks a significant return to form after missing nearly two full years of competitive play following his move to the American League.