Texas Rangers Ace Jacob deGrom Goal: 'Put Up Zeroes'

Jacob deGrom felt good after throwing three shutout innings in his Spring Training debut for the Texas Rangers against Seattle.

Jacob deGrom’s first spring start saw him give up a one-out triple to Seattle Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic in the top of the first. It was the only real trouble deGrom faced Sunday in the 2-1 win for the Texas Rangers.

So what was deGrom's attitude after that three-bagger?

“I gave up a triple and I was like, ‘OK, let’s leave him there,” deGrom said after getting the win.

Kelenic didn't go anywhere. deGrom struck out Cal Raleigh and Cooper Hummel, both swinging, to end the frame.

The Rangers’ biggest free-agent pitching acquisition in team history threw three sharp innings. He needed just 34 pitches, 28 going for strikes. He hit 100 mph on the radar gun. He struck out hitters on off-speed pitches.

The triple to Kelenic was a fastball that was supposed to go low but hung up in the zone. The other hit deGrom allowed came in the third, a single to Mason McCoy.

After that, he retired the side in short order — Leonardo Rivas pop-out, Julio Rodriguez fly out and Kelenic strikeout.

Before the game, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said he wanted deGrom to go 50 pitches. Given his sharpness, the Rangers opted to take him out after the third.

deGrom is getting in his work as he continues to ramp up during Spring Training. Bochy has said deGrom will be on a pitch count to start the season.

“The goal is to try and put up zeroes, and that’s what I did today,” deGrom.

He didn’t feel any restrictions, so the rest after the left side tightness he reported on Feb. 14 had the desired effect. The delivery on Sunday felt smooth, he said.

deGrom’s start means that all five of the intended starters for the Rangers rotation have pitched in a spring game. deGrom might get one more start before he gets to Arlington for Opening Day on March 30.

Bochy hasn’t announced an Opening Day starter, but deGrom feels the staff is on schedule.

“(I want to) get out there one more time and really work on some things, build up the pitch count an little more and get ready to start the regular season and see what happens,” deGrom said. “(Spring training) is what this is for.”

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