Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom underwent reconstructive surgery to repair his torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Monday. Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister performed the surgery, which was successful. The typical recovery time for this type of operation is between 12 to 14 months.
DeGrom’s Contract with Texas Rangers
DeGrom joined the Rangers as a free agent last winter, signing a $185 million, five-year deal. He was coming off two injury-plagued seasons with the New York Mets when he signed the contract. The Rangers won all six games that the two-time National League Cy Young Award winner started before getting injured. He had a record of 2-0 and an ERA of 2.67. He had 45 strikeouts and only four walks in 30 1/3 innings before getting hurt.
DeGrom’s Injury and Recovery
DeGrom exited early from his last start against the New York Yankees on April 28 due to injury concerns, the second time in three starts that he did so. An MRI last week revealed more inflammation and significant structural damage in the ligament, and the team announced that deGrom would have season-ending surgery. A scan conducted after he left the game against the Yankees, and before five bullpen sessions that followed, showed only inflammation.
DeGrom spent his first nine major league seasons with the Mets, but only threw 156 1/3 innings over 26 starts in his last two years in New York due to injuries. He missed the final three months of 2021 with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow. He did not make his first big league start until Aug. 2 last year after being shut down late in spring training because of a stress reaction in his right scapula. DeGrom had Tommy John surgery while still in the low minors after being drafted by the Mets in 2010, causing him to miss the entire 2011 season. He did not make his big league debut until 2014.
DeGrom’s Future with the Rangers
The surgery is expected to keep deGrom out for at least a year and will trigger Texas’ conditional option on his contract for a sixth season at $20 million, $30 million, or $37 million. The 2028 price will depend on deGrom’s performance during the contract and his health following the 2027 season, the fifth year of the deal.
Jon Gray’s Blister
Before Monday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Angels, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy announced that right-hander Jon Gray would not make his scheduled start because of a blister. Bochy said the decision was made so the team could “stay on the top of it” and try to prevent the blister from becoming a long-term issue for Gray. He did not expect the pitcher to miss a second turn. Gray is coming off a 100-pitch complete game in a 1-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals last Wednesday, where he struck out 12. He is 5-1 with a 0.84 ERA in his last six starts, allowing four earned runs in 43 innings.
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