Jacob deGrom, a two-time National League Cy Young Award winner, will not be returning to the AL West-leading Texas Rangers until at least late June. This comes after deGrom was transferred to the 60-day injured list on Monday. His last game was on April 28, where he left early due to injury concerns for the second time in three games. The following day, an MRI revealed inflammation in his right elbow, leading to a placement on the 15-day injured list.
Chris Young, the general manager of the Texas Rangers, stated that deGrom “hasn’t improved maybe as quickly as we had hoped” even after five bullpen sessions since going on the IL. Additional testing and another MRI are now scheduled for the 34-year-old right-hander who signed a $185 million, five-year contract with the Rangers in December. The earliest he could be activated is June 28th, making a cautious approach necessary.
DeGrom returned to the team on Monday after going back home to Florida for the birth of his third child. Although he has had some soreness during the five sessions, there have been good and bad days, which is typical of most recoveries. Young mentioned that he did not know how deGrom felt during his bullpen session in Detroit, but the ball was coming out well.
DeGrom’s Performance
DeGrom has won all six games he has started for the Texas Rangers, and although the team has performed well, they have missed his presence on the mound. The right-hander has only pitched 30 1/3 innings with a 2.67 ERA, 45 strikeouts, and four walks. He had a career-low 1.08 ERA over 92 innings during the 2021 season before missing the final three months with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow.
The Rangers signed deGrom in free agency after he played his first nine seasons with the New York Mets. However, he was limited by injuries to 156 1/3 innings over 26 starts in his last two years in New York. He did not make his first big league start last year until August 2 after being shut down late in spring training because of a stress reaction in his right scapula.
The Rangers are taking a cautious approach to deGrom’s recovery, keeping in mind their five-year decision to bring him on board. Young mentioned that although deGrom is the best in the world when he’s pitching, they want to ensure his long-term health and success.
Transferring deGrom to the 60-day IL allowed the Rangers to activate Spencer Howard from the 60-day IL. Howard missed the first 58 games due to a right lat strain.
DeGrom was not present in the clubhouse before the series opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, which was before the Rangers announced the change in his status. Although he is happy for the team and how they have played, he wants to be a part of it and push to be out there. However, he understands the risks of pushing too hard and causing setbacks.
The Texas Rangers are taking a cautious approach to Jacob deGrom’s injury recovery, keeping in mind their five-year decision to bring him on board. The earliest he could be activated is June 28th after additional testing and an MRI. Despite his absence, the Rangers have won all six games he has started, and they look forward to his return to the mound.
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