Jacob deGrom Throwing Rangers BP Wednesday

New Rangers ace Jacob deGrom is on track to be ready for the start of the regular season.

Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom will throw a batting practice session on Wednesday, which could be an important benchmark as to whether he pitches in a Spring Training game soon.

deGrom has already thrown four times from a mound — three bullpen sessions and one batting practice. So Wednesday’s session will be his fifth. The minimum the Rangers want their pitchers to throw before a spring game is two bullpen sessions and a batting practice session.

Rangers general manager Chris Young was asked if a batting practice session would be his last before making a step toward a game appearance. Young didn’t explicitly commit to it, but he said the team has a plan for deGrom.

“I think (Rangers pitching coach) Mike (Maddux) has the schedule mapped out, but I think as of now that’s the way we’re heading,” Young said.

The wait for deGrom to pitch in a game has been a long one by spring standards. He reported to Surprise on Feb. 14 and told the Rangers he had some left-side tightness after his offseason program, which included six bullpen sessions from a mound.

While deGrom maintained that if this was the regular season he could pitch, the Rangers shut him down for four days to give him more time to get rid of the tightness.

Since then, deGrom has been on a regular throwing program and the Rangers consider him to be on course to being ready for Opening Day against Philadelphia on March 30.

“We’re in good shape in terms of him being ready for the season,” Young said.

The Rangers signed deGrom to a five-year, $185 million deal in the offseason, the largest contract they’ve ever awarded a pitcher. At 35, he’s one of six projected starters that is over the age of 30.

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