ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom began throwing from 90 feet Monday, another step in his rehab from right elbow surgery 10 months ago with hope of pitching for the Texas Rangers down the stretch this season.
While deGrom started playing catch at the start of spring training, he has now progressed from 75 to 90 feet. He made 25 throws in the outfield from that longer distance, which he will continue through this week with the plan to then increase to 50 throws for a week, and 75 for another week after that.
“Once you start throwing, you kind are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. And then each time you complete a distance, you’re moving back, you’re getting that much closer to getting to the mound,” deGrom said. “So every step right now is big. Definitely happy with how it felt today.”
Manager Bruce Bochy watched deGrom throw and liked what he saw.
“It’s amazing how free and easy he’s throwing, and the carry he’s got on it,” Bochy said. “You would think watching that, you know, that he wasn’t that far out. You get excited, but you realize he still has a ways to go. We’re looking at early August.”
Texas signed deGrom to a $185 million, five-year deal during the winter before the 2023 season, when he was limited to 30 1/3 innings before the end of April, and then had surgery June 12. He was 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA with 45 strikeouts as the Rangers won all six games he started on the way to winning their first World Series championship. They would have missed the playoffs if they didn’t win at least three of those games.
If all goes well in deGrom’s rehab, he will follow three weeks at 90 feet with three weeks throwing from 105 feet, and then two to three weeks at 120 feet before finally getting back on a mound no earlier than June.
“I completed 75 (feet) Friday … so now we’re starting to move back,” he said. “I felt like the ball’s coming out really nicely. So I’m really happy with where I’m at right now.”
His contract included a conditional optional for a sixth season in 2028 that will kick in because of the elbow injury that has forced him to miss so much time. The conditional option will be for $20 million, $30 million or $37 million, depending on deGrom’s performance during the contract and health following the 2027 season.
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