Right-hander Jacob deGrom will remain toward the back of the Texas Rangers’ starting rotation as part of their cautious approach with him despite other pitching injuries.
PEORIA, Ariz. — Spring training or not, most starting pitchers would be satisfied with allowing two runs in four innings on an economical 57 pitches. Then again, most pitchers aren’t Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom.
He didn’t care for his mechanics, which led to his fastball and slider command betraying him against the Mariners. Unable to make the adjustment, he took his foot off the gas with his fastball velocity.
The two-time Cy Young winner topped out at a mere 97 mph. What’s wrong with him?
Nothing, especially medically, and that’s all that mattered Tuesday at the Peoria Sports Complex. And the Rangers haven’t changed their plan to do whatever they can to make sure deGrom stays healthy all season, even after injuries to Jon Gray and Cody Bradford that have shaken the starting rotation with a week to go until Opening Day.
“Healthwise I feel good. That’s the main thing,” deGrom said. “Now it’s just locking it in for go time.”
He will throw another bullpen session before the team leaves camp later this week, and he’s scheduled to pitch the afternoon exhibition Tuesday at Globe Life Field against the Royals. If that schedule holds, he will start the finale of the season-opening series March 30 vs. the Red Sox.
Manager Bruce Bochy said that deGrom should be stretched out to 75 pitches for his first regular-season outing, and the plan is to continue to build him up from there. But the Rangers aren’t going to let him throw 100 pitches every time out and might not let him for a few months.
DeGrom has made only nine starts for the Rangers since signing a five-year, $185 million contract in December 2022. He underwent Tommy John surgery in June 2023 after only six regular-season starts and returned in September 2024 for three starts that covered fewer than four innings per outing.
Keeping deGrom healthy, which includes starting him toward the back of the rotation and honoring all team off days, is part of the plan to keep him from landing on the injured list. The Rangers’ IL is already too crowded with Gray (broken right wrist) and Bradford (left elbow discomfort) out for multiple weeks after injuries last week.
“He’s going to remain toward the back, still slot in that four or five hole,” Bochy said. “I think that’s the best place to put him as we start the season. So that has not changed.”
The Rangers named Nathan Eovaldi as their Opening Day starter and feel good about Tyler Mahle after five solid innings Tuesday. He also barely pitched last season after Tommy John surgery in May 2023, and the Rangers will also monitor his workload.
Jack Leiter is the front-runner for one of the two open rotation spots, and on Tuesday the Rangers signed left-hander Patrick Corbin to eventually take the remaining spot. Until he’s ready to go after missing spring training, the Rangers will turn to one of seven candidates still competing in spring training.
Believe it or not, deGrom is the least of the Rangers’ pitching worries. That means he’s healthy, which is the most important thing about his spring so far.
“What’s exciting is how he feels after he throws and before he throws,” said Bochy, the four-time World Series-winning manager. “It’s got to be a good feeling for him to go through his warmups and not feel anything. He’s pain-free now, and he looks it.”
Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com
