Watch: Texas Rangers Starter deGrom Throws More Bullpen in Surprise
Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom threw a bullpen on Saturday in Surprise, another step toward being ready to pitch in a spring training game, perhaps as early as Monday.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy indicated on Friday that deGrom’s availability for a live spring training game would be dependent on the bullpen session.
“If all goes well tomorrow (Saturday), we’ll re-evaluate him, but he could be pitching Monday,” Bochy said.
deGrom’s last throwing session was on Wednesday, when he threw his first live batting practice of spring training.
The right-hander faced six hitters – a mix from the Majors and minors – in a 35-pitch session, with his fastball topping out at 100 mph. He’s thrown five times this spring after initially taking a few days off with tightness in his left side.
Saturday’s session was a standard bullpen, but it drew a crowd, including injured outfielder Leody Taveras.
Rangers general manager Chris Young said on Monday there is a schedule mapping out of deGrom’s preparation for opening day. The Rangers have maintained that despite his early shut down, he is still on time to be ready.
deGrom’s five-year deal was the largest contract Texas have ever given a pitcher. At age-35, he’s one of six projected starters that is over the age of 30.
deGrom has also pitched truncated seasons each of the last three seasons, though the 2020 season was due to COVID-19.
deGrom missed half of the 2021 season due to right elbow inflammation. He missed the first half of last season with a stress reaction in his right scapula.
Last year he went 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 starts with the New York Mets. In 2021 he went 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA, earned an All-Star Game berth and was ninth in Cy Young voting despite the injury.
Before that, deGrom was highly durable. He made 30 or more starts in four of his first six seasons in the Majors, with his 2018 and 2019 seasons both leading to National League Cy Young awards. In 2018 he led the Majors with a 1.70 ERA, followed by a 2.43 ERA in 2019.
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