WATCH: Jacob deGrom Throws First Bullpen for Rangers

Jacob deGrom had only done light tossing in the outfield after showing up to Spring Training with left side tightness.

Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom threw a full bullpen session for the first time in Spring Training on Thursday. It's a moment the Rangers, deGrom and fans have been anticipating for more than a week.

deGrom reported to Surprise on Feb. 14 and told the Rangers that he was experiencing left side tightness. From there the Rangers decided to let deGrom rest for a few days.

Since then, deGrom threw long toss at least twice this week, ramping up to the chance to throw a bullpen on Thursday.

The Athletic shared video of his first session via social media.

Here’s the first Jacob deGrom bullpen pitch of the spring, ya animals pic.twitter.com/fuHhISgfpC

— Levi Weaver (@ThreeTwoEephus) February 23, 2023

The Rangers shared a slow-motion replay of deGrom's delivery later in the day. 

On deMound. #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/YgyYelMXqu

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) February 23, 2023

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy expressed no concerns on Wednesday that deGrom might be behind the rest of the staff due to the slow ramp-up to a bullpen session.

deGrom said last week that if this were the regular season he would be pitching. He also told reporters that he threw six sessions from a mound in the offseason.

The Rangers have planned to have all pitchers throw at least two live batting practices this week before throwing in a spring training game. Bochy said the Rangers want deGrom to pitch at least one additional live batting practice before getting into a spring training game.

That means he’s unlikely to make a spring training game debut until at least next week. The Rangers have already announced their pitching lineups for their first two Spring Training games against the Kansas City Royals on Friday and Saturday. Both games will be at their shared complex in Surprise.

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.

deGrom has also pitched truncated seasons each of the last three seasons, though the 2020 season was shortened due to COVID-19.

deGrom missed half of the 2021 season due to right elbow inflammation. He missed the first half of last season with a stress reaction in his right scapula.

Last year he went 5-4 with a 3.08 ERA in 11 starts with the Mets. In 2021 he went 7-2 with a 1.08 ERA, earned an All-Star Game berth and was ninth in Cy Young voting despite the injury.

Before that, deGrom was highly durable. He made 30 or more starts in four of his first six seasons in the Majors, with his 2018 and 2019 seasons both leading to National League Cy Young awards. In 2018 he led the Majors with a 1.70 ERA, followed by a a 2.43 ERA in 2019.

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