Texas Rangers Mapping Out Jacob deGrom Return Schedule

Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young is pleased with Jacob deGrom's progress as the team returns home.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Texas Rangers general manager Chris Young has a target date in mind for the return of ace Jacob deGrom, but still needs to carve out a rehab timeline. 

Young said the team was pleased with how deGrom threw on the recently-completed road trip, which ended Sunday at the Oakland Athletics.

“The last week on the road has gone well and we’ll sit down and try to map out a schedule for his return,” Young said Monday.

Young said the Rangers do have a date that hope to get deGrom back, but didn’t reveal it. Input from the training staff will be part of deGrom’s evaluation process.

“We need to debrief on several things, but I think we’re approaching that (a timeline),” Young said.

deGrom accompanied the Rangers on the entire road trip. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said last week that deGrom was looking at “two to three weeks” before returning. That would put a return in late May at the earliest.

The Rangers signed deGrom to a five-year, $185 million contract in the offseason.

The Rangers aren’t looking to push deGrom, in part because of the depth on their pitching staff. Dane Dunning has stepped into deGrom’s spot in the rotation and provided two solid starts.

The Rangers purchased the contract of Cody Bradford, a native of nearby Aledo and Baylor product, to start Monday night in the series opener against the Atlanta Braves.

Dunning is starting Tuesday and Nathan Eovaldi goes Wednesday. Young said the Bradford cal-up was designed to give the veteran starters an extra day of rest after a 10-game, 10-day road trip.

deGrom went on the 15-day injured list on April 29 with right elbow inflammation. He was eligible to be activated on Sunday.

More From SI’s Inside The Rangers:

1. Texas Rangers New Nike City Connect Jersey Pay Homage to Dallas-Fort Worth
2. Texas Rangers in Play to Sing Shohei Ohtani
3. Arlington Mayor Says Rougned Odor ‘Punch’ Mural to Stay
4. Texas Rangers Clubhouse ‘Insane’ Says Reliever
5. Texas Rangers MVP in 2023?
6. Predicting Texas Rangers 2023 Record
7. Jose Altuve Injury Potentially Helps Texas Rangers Playoff Chances
8. MLB Plan for Television Texas Rangers
9. Bally Sports Southwest to Televise Nearly All Rangers Games
10. Texas Rangers Unveil Exciting New Ballpark Food

---

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook and Twitter.