Texas Rangers Ace Jacob deGrom Sets Return Target Date

Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom made his first public comments since surgery and shared his recovery timetable.

© Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Nearly a week removed from surgery on his torn UCL, Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom was back in the clubhouse Sunday to give a recover update.

The repair went well. That's the hard part, he said.

“It feels good,” deGrom said, according to the Associated Press. “Everything went well. I look forward to doing all the rehab stuff to get back out there.”

The procedure was reconstructive surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament performed by the Rangers’ surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister.

The two-time Cy Young winner’s goal is to return by August of 2024, approximately 14 months away. That’s the mid-range of recovery from Tommy John surgery. deGrom had the same injury and surgery in 2010 with the New York Mets.

For the next three weeks, he’ll have a brace on his right arm and watch home games from the bullpen. He calls that a preventative measure, as there’s more action in the dugout and less chance of someone accidentally hitting his arm. His rehab is already underway and he’s set to attend sessions five days a week.

“I know what it takes to come back,” deGrom said. “It takes a lot of hard work and sticking with the program, not trying to do too much. That’s where it became tricky my first time. I felt good and really wanted to keep going.”

deGrom is in the first year of a five-year, $185 million deal signed in the offseason.

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