Texas Rangers Manager Updates Jacob deGrom Return Timetable

Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom has thrown four bullpen sessions since suffering an elbow injury in late April.

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told CBS Sports Radio’s Jim Rome that it could be “two or three weeks” before pitcher Jacob deGrom is ready to pitch in the Majors again.

That would put deGrom's return at mid-to-late June.

Bochy made the comments before deGrom threw his fourth bullpen session Friday in Baltimore before the Rangers beat the Orioles 12-2. The two-time Cy Young Award winner threw breaking balls for the first time since going on injured list in April with right elbow inflammation.

“We'll see how he comes out (of the bullpen) obviously, and he could possibly be facing hitters real soon,” Bochy said. “So it's hard to say how long — could be two to three weeks. Really depends on how he's bouncing back.”

deGrom’s latest session featured 31 pitches and Bochy told reporters in Baltimore that deGrom “used his whole arsenal” of pitches after throwing just fastballs in previous sessions.

The Rangers are waiting to see how deGrom recovers from his most extensive bullpen yet. But if he continues to track as he has the past few weeks, Bochy sees that as good news.

“Right now, after every bullpen, he hasn’t felt a thing,” Bochy said. “So we're very encouraged about where he's at.”

It was the second bullpen for deGrom on the current road trip. He had a 32-pitch session Monday in Pittsburgh that simulated two innings.

The Rangers have not publicly shared whether deGrom will go on a rehab assignment before returning to the club. Bochy did acknowledge the possibility of deGrom foregoing a stint in the minors to be an “opener” and build up his pitch count in MLB games.

Facing live hitters is another step deGrom has yet to take. 

“His next step, it's just hard to say at this point because you're adjusting on the fly a little bit here,” Bochy said, according to MLB.com. “We don’t know whether we take the next step or have him throw another bullpen, but to me it's encouraging. He was letting it go and he felt pretty good.”

The right-hander last started on April 29 against the New York Yankees, leaving after four innings. A subsequent MRI exam revealed right elbow inflammation.

The American League West-leading Rangers don’t have any reason to rush deGrom back. He’s already had a few minor injury scares since joining the club, including getting shut down early in Spring Training and leaving two starts early.

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