The WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched) statistic has become a popular measure of a pitcher’s ability in Major League Baseball (MLB). It is calculated by adding the number of walks and hits allowed by a pitcher and dividing that number by the number of innings pitched. A lower WHIP is generally indicative of a pitcher’s ability to limit baserunners and is often used as a measure of a pitcher’s effectiveness. So, who has the best WHIP in MLB?
Jacob deGrom: The Unquestioned Leader in WHIP
If you were to ask who has the best WHIP in MLB, the answer without a doubt would be Jacob deGrom. The New York Mets ace has been the undisputed leader in the category since the start of the 2018 season. Through the 2019 season, deGrom has compiled a WHIP of 0.98, the lowest mark in MLB since the stat was first tracked in 1913. His WHIP is even more impressive when compared to the league average, which has hovered around 1.30 over the same timeframe.
The Rise of Jacob deGrom
The Mets could not have predicted what they were getting when they drafted deGrom out of Stetson University in 2010. After a lackluster start to his professional career, deGrom made his major league debut in 2014 and quickly established himself as one of the best pitchers in the league. He won the National League Cy Young Award in both 2018 and 2019, becoming only the sixth pitcher in MLB history to win the award in consecutive seasons.
deGrom’s Dominance in WHIP
It’s no surprise that deGrom is at the top of the leaderboards for WHIP, as he has consistently been near the top since his breakout season in 2015. From 2015-2018, deGrom posted a WHIP of 1.10 or lower in every season. This streak culminated in 2018 when he posted a WHIP of 0.91, the lowest mark since the stat was first tracked in 1913. He followed that season up with a WHIP of 0.97 in 2019, cementing his place at the top of the leaderboards.
Other Notable Names in WHIP
While deGrom is the undisputed leader in WHIP, there are a few other notable names near the top of the leaderboards. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw has a WHIP of 1.02, second only to deGrom in the last six years. Similarly, Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer has posted a WHIP of 1.03 over the same timeframe, good for third best in the league.
Conclusion
When it comes to WHIP, there is no one better than Jacob deGrom. The Mets ace has been the undisputed leader in the category since the start of the 2018 season, posting a WHIP of 0.98 over the last six years. While there are a few other notable names near the top of the leaderboards, deGrom stands alone as the best in MLB.