His 45-pitch session Tuesday has the ace convinced he’ll pitch for the Rangers in 2024.
Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom photographed at the team's training facility on Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, in Surprise, Ariz.ST. LOUIS — His jersey soaked in sweat, Jacob deGrom emerged from his most strenuous pitching workout yet just an hour before Tuesday’s trade deadline expired with this message: He is convinced he will pitch and contribute for the Rangers this year.
due to elbow issues that eventually required surgery, threw three sets of 15 pitches off a mound on Tuesday and could be facing hitters before next week is out. DeGrom threw a 15-pitch “first inning,” which included five changeups, sat for eight minutes, then returned to the mound for another 15-pitch inning that included five sliders before another rest and then concluded with a final 15-pitch effort that included both sliders and changeups.Given the timing, deGrom was asked if he was convinced he’d pitch this season for the Rangers in a meaningful role.“I feel that way,” he said. “That is the goal — to help this team into the playoffs and in the playoffs. I don’t want to say too much at one time, but that’s always been the goal and I feel that’s where we are headed. “I’m just working on some location things,” he said. “I’m really starting to let it go and am ready to get back out there. It’s been a long, long road, but I feel like I can really see the light at the end of the tunnel.”DeGrom is expected to throw another 45-pitch session on either Friday or Saturday. After that: He is expected to face hitters, likely at Globe Life Field before the Rangers depart for a week-long road trip on August 8. If all that goes well, he could begin a rehab assignment that might make him an option as early as Sept. 1. GM Chris Young said Tuesday that deGrom could be within 30-40 days of being ready to join the roster. He might be the second addition to the rotation of the second half. Tyler Mahle will make what is expected to be his last rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Round Rock. If that goes well, he could potentially join the rotation as early as next week.Evan Grant , Rangers beat writer/insider. Evan has covered the Rangers since 1997. He has twice been named one of the top 10 beat writers in the country by the AP Sports Editors. His passions outside of covering baseball are his wife, Gina, his two step kids, two crazy dogs & barbecue. Let's not discuss the cat. Evan graduated from Georgia State University, but oddly is a Georgia fan.
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