Jacob deGrom Return to Texas Rangers Appears Delayed

Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom may be “another two to three weeks” away from returning, according to the Dallas Morning News.

That adds another week or two to the timeline originally proposed by Rangers manager Bruce Bochy.

Currently with the Rangers on their road trip, deGrom only began light toss work on Monday. The Rangers and Seattle Mariners conclude their three-game series Wednesday.

“We’re going very easy with it and testing it out,” Bochy said.

The report doesn’t indicate whether deGrom had a setback or not, but added that the team would re-evaluate deGrom after returning to Arlington following the current road trip. Texas heads back home after the upcoming Oakland Athletics series ends Sunday.

If all goes well, deGrom could start escalating his throwing program at that point. The Rangers are being incredibly cautious with deGrom, given the team’s $185 million investment in the two-time Cy Young Award winner.

The timeline seems to be moving backward and not forward.

Last week Bochy said that deGrom may need two more weeks before he’s ready to return to the field. With deGrom set to be re-evaluated Monday, it appears clear that he won’t be ready when he’s eligible to come off the IL on Sunday.

deGrom went on the 15-day injured list on April 29 after leaving his last start against the New York Yankees with what was initially labeled right forearm tightness. That came two starts after deGrom left early against the Kansas City Royals with a wrist issue.

The MRI performed after the Yankees exit revealed right elbow inflammation.

deGrom made his first six scheduled starts before going on the IL Dane Dunning took deGrom’s first missed turn in the rotation on Friday.

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