Jacob deGrom Hopes To Help Texas Rangers 'Run It Back' When He Returns This Summer

The Texas Rangers right-hander said his recovery from Tommy John is progressing well and that he hopes to be back with the club by the end of July.

ARLINGTON — Jacob deGrom wants to run it back to the World Series and help the Texas Rangers do it in 2024.

The rehabbing right-hander said he feels good and is excited about his progress from a second Tommy John surgery in June. He expects to start throwing in March or April but has yet to set a firm date. He saw Dr. Keith Meister on Friday and started a plyometric regimen that helps build muscle strength, specifically in the lower body, first for deGrom and then his arms.

"The plan is to start throwing in spring," he said. "You have to complete the plyometric program and then go into the throwing stuff. I've felt really good, though, all along the way. So, hopefully, that continues. I look forward to getting back out there at some point this year."

The Rangers hope deGrom, Tyler Mahle, and Max Scherzer will all return from injury rehab in late June or July.

"When we get us back, hopefully somewhere around the trade deadline, it's like picking up a couple of guys," he said. "The goal is to run it back. That's probably the hardest thing to do. We've got a tough task ahead of us, but that's what we're looking forward to getting out there and doing."

In the meantime, deGrom said he'll continue to offer advice to the younger pitchers, along with Scherzer, something both were keen to do during the run to the World Series title. 

"When I signed here, we had a great group of guys. So that made it a little bit easier rooting on these guys," deGrom said. "We've been around the league quite a while and have a pretty good idea of how to get guys out, especially some of the older guys who we've [pitched against] a lot. I'm not a very vocal person, but when people come up to me and ask me, then I'll tell them whatever I'm thinking."

Jacob deGrom is pleased with his rehab progress ...#TexasRangers pic.twitter.com/EZgsBq3GIr

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) January 27, 2024

He was able to remain close to the team by traveling on road trips with the blessing of majority owner Ray Davis and general manager Chris Young. 

"That made it a lot easier being around everybody," he said. "If there was anything, if anybody had questions, I was willing to answer any questions on what I thought. We were fortunate enough to win the World Series. That's the goal. So this is a new year and that's the goal to do it again. So hopefully, I can be back out there and help the team a little bit more this year."

Although his rehab is trending towards a quick recovery, deGrom won't try to rush his return.

"You don't want to push it because you want to continue to pitch here for the next however many years," he said. "So that's where we've got to kind of take a look at what is the best plan moving forward whenever that time comes.

Jacob deGrom Takes Rehab Step

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