Texas Rangers Move Jacob deGrom to 60-Day Injured List, Out for June

Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom likely won't come back until the end of June at the earliest.

Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom is back with the team after the birth of his child last week as they open a three-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals at Globe Life Field on Monday night.

But he won’t be pitching until at least June 28 after the Rangers moved him to the 60-day injured list.

That’s the earliest deGrom can be activated. It was part of a flurry of moves pitching-wise, as the Rangers activated and promoted Spencer Howard from Triple-A Round Rock and sent down reliever Jonathan Hernández.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy had already ruled deGrom out for at least another week, saying there was “no way” that he would pitch in this weekend’s road series with Tampa Bay, a matchup of the American League’s two best teams.

The real question after deGrom’s detour to Florida was what was next?

The two-time Cy Young Award winner had already thrown several bullpen sessions before his trip, but he hadn’t thrown to live hitters and there wasn’t a real sense of whether he would go on a rehab assignment or get work as an "opener" with the Rangers to build up a pitch count.

deGrom, 34, was placed on the 15-day injured list on April 29 with right elbow inflammation.

Before the season, deGrom set of goal of making 30 starts for the Rangers this season and in the years to come. That was expected considering the $185 million invested over five years.

But now deGrom will be out at least two months or roughly a third of his debut season with Texas. The Rangers have received solid starting pitching throughout the staff, led by Nathan Eovaldi. Dane Dunning, who replaced deGrom in the rotation, has also stepped up.

Still, deGrom was signed to be the franchise ace. He still might be ... though it looks like that won't be any sooner than probably July.

The AL West-leading Rangers (38-20) send last year's ace Martín Pérez (6-1, 4.43) to the mound against St. Louis. The Redbirds counter with Adam Wainwright (2-1, 6.15) and first pitch is set for a 7:05 p.m.

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