Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom is set to begin a rehab assignment this week as he progresses towards returning to the mound in the big leagues. After undergoing Tommy John surgery for a torn ulnar collateral ligament in April 2023, the 36-year-old has not played in an MLB game since then. Typically, pitchers are given around 14 months to recover from this type of surgery, and deGrom reached that milestone last Sunday.
Speaking to reporters after facing live batters on Saturday, deGrom mentioned, “My arm feels great except now it’s just been, what, how many months? Fourteen? You’ve got your [teammates] in there. You go face other guys, and I think that’ll help a little bit.”
It remains uncertain how many starts deGrom will need before rejoining the Rangers’ rotation. MLB regulations allow pitchers to go on a rehab assignment for up to 30 days, giving deGrom approximately four weeks from the start of his assignment before he must be activated. This timeline suggests a return around mid-September, allowing him to finish the season with a few starts at the highest level.
DeGrom, a two-time Cy Young Award winner and four-time All-Star, signed a five-year deal with the Rangers worth $185 million ahead of the 2023 season. In his six starts with Texas, he posted a 2.67 ERA (161 ERA+) and an impressive 11.25 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 30 innings.
While the Rangers, as the reigning World Series champions, are unlikely to make the postseason this year with a 56-68 record, deGrom’s imminent return could bolster their prospects for competitiveness in the 2025 season.
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