Jacob deGrom's 2025 truly was a remarkable feat of perseverance and grit

Winning postseason awards like MVP or Cy Young are most certainly noteworthy, as they indicate that you were the very best in the league at what you do.

But an award like Player's Choice Comeback Player Award comes with an extra sense of satisfaction in that you were able to get up after being knocked down and return to successful form while contributing to the team.

If you ask Jacob deGrom, he would likely tell you he is prouder of beingawarded the 2025 AL Players Choice Comeback Player over his two Cy Youngs when he dominated for the New York Mets in 2018 and 2019.

It appeared that deGrom might never come close to what he was before his injuries

One Tommy John surgery is sometimes enough to put an elite pitcher on the shelf for good. Considering that deGrom has had two of the complex arm procedures and it is almost a miracle that he is still pitching at all.

The Ranger organization was hopeful to get any kind of ROI with the huge amount they signed deGrom to in 2023. Little did they know he would come back and be the same dominant ace that he was in the prime of his career.

The Players Choice Comeback Player Award serves as notice that deGrom is a dominant force again

Over the past four seasons prior to 2025, deGrom failed to register more than 92 innings in any season. In 2023, his season was cut short after he threw just 30.1 innings, as he was scheduled for another season-ending procedure and only threw 10.2 innings last season. It must have felt like he would never achieve his goal of being a dominant pitcher again.

This season deGrom was the most available and effective starting pitcher on the staff. In 172.2 innings through 30 starts, notching a 12-8 record with a 2.97 ERA, 185 strikeouts and an incredible 0.92 WHIP, the lowest mark by a qualified pitcher in team history.

It was a massive achievement for the 37-year-old DeLand, Florida native, putting the league on notice that his nasty slider and arsenal of pitches are still as un-hittable as they've ever been.

It is great to see him recognized by his peers with the AL Players Choice Comeback Award because of all that deGrom has had to go through to return to form. Approval from those who you take the field with and against is the highest form of praise for an athlete.