Fastball

Texas Rangers' Ace Takes Critical Step in Injury Rehab

The defending champion Texas Rangers got great news on Monday as ace Jacob deGrom threw for the first time. He's recovering from elbow surgery and isn't expected to be ready until at least midseason.

Brady Farkas

Texas Rangers' Ace Takes Critical Step in Injury Rehab
Texas Rangers' Ace Takes Critical Step in Injury Rehab /
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The defending World Series champion Texas Rangers got great news on Monday as ace Jacob deGrom threw for the first time as he recovers from elbow surgery that he underwent in 2023.

Though deGrom isn't expected back until at least midseason, it's great news for Texas.

Per Rangers' Insider Jeff Wilson on "X:"

Jacob deGrom says he started to throw Monday and will be throwing again today. #Rangers

deGrom, 35, is one of the best pitchers of his era. He's won the National League Rookie of the Year (2014), has been to the All-Star Game four times (2015, 2018-19, 2021), has won the National League Cy Young twice (2018-19) and finished in the top 10 in Cy Young voting a total of six times.

He finished at 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA last season in six starts for Texas before getting injured.

He left the Mets after nine years last offseason, signing a five-year, $185 million contract with Texas. Unfortunately, injuries have been part of the story of the later part of his career. He made just 15 starts in 2021, 11 in 2022 and six in 2023.

deGrom is just one of multiple injury concerns in the starting rotation for the Rangers. Max Scherzer, acquired last year at the trade deadline, is out until at least midseason as well. Tyler Mahle, signed this offseason, underwent Tommy John last year and likely won't be back until July or August.

The Rangers have Andrew Heaney, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray and Dane Dunning as rotation options right now, with the fifth spot being up for grabs.

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Brady Farkas
BRADY FARKAS

Brady Farkas is a baseball writer for Fastball on Sports Illustrated/FanNation and the host of 'The Payoff Pitch' podcast which can be found on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Videos on baseball also posted to YouTube. Brady has spent nearly a decade in sports talk radio and is a graduate of Oswego State University. You can follow him on Twitter @WDEVRadioBrady. 

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