Jacob deGrom Feels Ready for Opening Day Following First Spring Start
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It may have been a few weeks behind schedule, but Jacob deGrom finally made his first start of the spring on Monday. After tweaking his left side, the new Texas Rangers ace was shut down by the team out of precaution for the first few days of MLB Spring Training.
deGrom was then eased back into baseball activities with a throwing program that graduated to live bullpen sessions, and eventually a start on Monday.
Facing the Kansas City Royals Triple-A squad, deGrom threw two innings of work, allowed one run on one hit (an inside-the-park-home-run) and struck out five. He did all of that with just 24 pitches, 22 of which were thrown for strikes.
deGrom utilized all four of his pitches and recorded a strikeout with his fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup. His fastball even touched 100 mph on Monday.
He looked and felt good.
"If somebody steps in there I want to get them out," deGrom said. "I was able to get what I wanted to today and able to throw, like I said, all four pitches. I’m happy with how it turned out. Everything felt good. I feel really good. That was the main goal."
Of course the big question is whether or not he will be ready for Opening Day on Mar 30 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Asked if he is ready, deGrom appears to think so.
"Yeah, I think so," he said. "There might be some restrictions on the first start of the season … considering what I had, getting rid of that and how I feel now. I like where we’re at."
When asked again about Opening Day deGrom quickly jumped in with reassurance.
"Yes, I think so."
It's clear the plan is to get the new ace ready for the beginning of the season. If Monday is any indication, his stuff is there, it's lively and, more than anything, deGrom is hungry and eager to get this season underway.
If he remains healthy, deGrom has the talent to alter the course of the Rangers franchise.
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