The Texas Rangers, the reigning World Series champions, have faced challenges in their title defense this season, but they remain in contention for the AL West. A significant boost could be on the horizon as ace Jacob deGrom is nearing his return from injury.
After completing a 45-pitch bullpen session that simulated three innings last Saturday, deGrom is set to take the next step in his recovery by facing live batters. According to Evan Grant of the *Dallas Morning News*, deGrom will go through a warm-up session in the bullpen before throwing 20 pitches to minor league hitters on Thursday. If all goes well, he is expected to throw two innings against minor league hitters early next week, which could be the final step before beginning a rehab assignment at the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate.
DeGrom expressed his excitement, saying, “You want to see where you are. Bullpens are one thing, but it’s different when a hitter steps in. You get a better idea of how you are executing pitches. Now, it’s about building consistency of pitches.”
DeGrom, a four-time All-Star and two-time Cy Young Award winner, signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers before the 2023 season after spending nine years with the New York Mets. However, his debut season with Texas was cut short after just 30.1 innings due to a right elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery in June of last year. Despite his absence, the Rangers went on to win an unexpected World Series.
Before his injury, deGrom was in peak form, posting a 2-0 record with a 2.67 ERA, 0.758 WHIP, and an impressive 13.4 K/9 in six starts. Now, as he nears a return to the mound, his presence could be a game-changer for the Rangers as they continue their push for the playoffs.