Jacob deGrom Sets Timeline For Texas Rangers Return

Jacob deGrom is watching this Texas Rangers postseason from the dugout, but he hopes to be ready for the next one.

The Texas Rangers were hoping that Jacob deGrom would pitching in this postseason and in an atmosphere like the American League Championship Series.

That’s what the Rangers signed him for last offseason, forking over $185 million for five seasons.

Tommy John surgery in June, the second of his career, deGrom’s season. He’s had to watch the Rangers make the postseason from the dugout. But that doesn’t mean he’s not working on getting back in time for a potential postseason run in 2024.

deGrom spoke to the New York Post on Tuesday about his recovery, and as it turns out he might be a bit ahead of schedule.

Four months after the surgery, deGrom said that “my arm feels pretty close to normal already.”

There appears to be a target for a return to the mound in a real game — August. What has him so optimistic?

His doctors, for one. deGrom had his first surgery in 2010, back when he just started in pro baseball in the New York Mets system. Because of the space between the two surgeries, deGrom said that his doctors are encouraged that he can meet the fast end of the standard recovery time for the surgery, which is 14-18 months.

August would be right at 14 months.

Another is that deGrom is checking off milestones on time. He has full range of motion in his right arm. He should start upper body work in a couple of months. Then comes throwing and playing catch. He said that he believes he’ll be throwing off a mound by Spring Training, which would be February or March.

He did admit that watching this playoff run from the dugout “stinks.”

“I want to do what I love to do,” deGrom said.

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