deGrom won't be on the same team as his former Mets brethren on Tuesday when he suits up for the All-Star Game. But he did get the opportunity to reflect on his tenure and what it means to reconnect in his third season away from the Big Apple.

This is finally the vintage Jacob deGrom pitching for the Texas Rangers, and not because the lanky right-hander recently turned 37 years old. After several injury-filled seasons in a row, both before and since going to Texas in free agency, deGrom is again an All-Star ace.