After taking home the National League’s Rookie of the Year Award in 2014, Jacob deGrom followed up his impressive first season in the big leagues with an even better one last season. In addition to boasting one of Major League Baseball’s best fastballs, the 27-year-old has another has another weapon to help get batters out.
deGrom has become known for his long, blonde hair that flows out from under his cap. Apparently, his hair has bothered atleast one opposing batter, who said it makes it hard to pick up the baseball coming out of deGrom’s hand.
“First of all, I see this guy on the mound who looks like a stick figure,” a player told the Bergen Record. “I mean, you don’t see major league pitchers who look like that. And he’s got that hair, you can’t not look at it, it’s everywhere. It bothers me when I’m trying to pick up the ball out of his hand. All I see is hair.”
During last year’s playoff run, deGrom threatened to cut his hair, but ultimately decided against it. After hearing about the “problems” it causes, deGrom joked he may never cut it again. It’s all about gaining that competitive advantage, right?
Between deGrom and Noah Syndergaard, the Mets have no shortage of pitchers with long hair who throw hard. According to Eric Hosmer of the Royals, it’s a requirement.
Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer: "To be a Mets pitcher, you have to have long hair and throw 100 mph, it seems like."
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 26, 2015
H/T Eye On Baseball
