ARLINGTON, Texas — Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom threw off a mound Monday for the first time since undergoing reconstructive right elbow surgery over a year ago. Meanwhile, Max Scherzer’s next start could mark his season debut for the Texas Rangers.
DeGrom, who threw 15 pitches without any breaking balls, was optimistic about his progress. “That went really well,” he said. “So one day at a time. I’ve got two more [sessions] this week, and then just keep moving forward from there.”
He pitched in the bullpen ahead of the Rangers’ homestand opener against his former team, the New York Mets, and two days before his 36th birthday. DeGrom signed a $185 million, five-year deal with Texas before the 2023 season.
The Mets are covering most of Scherzer’s salary after trading the three-time Cy Young Award winner to Texas at last summer’s deadline. Scherzer, who has not pitched for the Rangers since the 2023 World Series, threw 4 2/3 innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday night. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy suggested that Scherzer’s next start would be in the major leagues but did not specify when.
Scherzer has made three rehab starts since undergoing back surgery in December. His first rehab start was on April 24, but subsequent starts were delayed until June 9 due to right thumb soreness, later diagnosed as a nerve issue affecting his right triceps.
The Rangers acquired Scherzer after he agreed to opt into the final year of his contract, worth $43.3 million for this season. The Mets are paying $30.83 million of that salary in twice-monthly installments.
DeGrom, who spent his first nine major league seasons with the Mets, threw only 156 1/3 innings over 26 starts in his last two years in New York. He missed the final three months of the 2021 season with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow, and did not make his first start in 2022 until August 2 due to a stress reaction in his right scapula.
Before getting injured, deGrom (2-0, 2.67 ERA) had helped the Rangers win all six games he started. His last appearance was on April 28, 2023, against the New York Yankees, when he exited early due to injury concerns for the second time in three starts. The four-time All-Star underwent surgery on June 12 last year.
