NEW YORK -- New York Mets starter Jacob deGrom suggested the player he is most eager to meet and chat with at the All-Star Game is San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner. As for the American League player deGrom would most like to face? That’s Los Angeles Angels phenom Mike Trout.
“He’s a great hitter,” deGrom said Sunday, before traveling to Cincinnati for his first All-Star Game. “I think it would be fun to face him and try to get him out.”
Barring the late roster addition of Jeurys Familia, deGrom will be the Mets’ lone representative at Tuesday’s All-Star Game.
DeGrom spoke with NL manager Bruce Bochy when the Mets played in San Francisco last week, and Bochy pledged to use him in the game.
As for whether deGrom might be named the starting pitcher, especially with Max Scherzer pitching Sunday for the Washington Nationals and having to withdraw from competing in the All-Star Game, deGrom said: “I honestly haven’t thought about that. But if I did get to start, it would be a lot of fun.”
DeGrom has quizzed Michael Cuddyer, Daniel Murphy and, via text, David Wright about what to expect at the All-Star Game.
“He just said enjoy yourself -- ‘Go out there and have fun,’” deGrom said about Wright.
DeGrom burst onto the major league stage last season as the NL Rookie of the Year. He enters the All-Star break with a 2.14 ERA, which trails only Zack Greinke, A.J. Burnett and Scherzer in the league entering Sunday’s games.
DeGrom described himself as “fortunate” for his early career success and said he will particularly enjoy the All-Star Game because you never know if you will return.
As for how he has improved in his year-plus in the majors, deGrom said: “I think just being able to adjust to hitters during the game. And I think my offpseed has been a little more consistent, being able to throw 3-2 sliders and changeups and stuff. That’s helped me out a lot, versus last year where I’d probably throw a fastball 3-2 every time.”
