Injured Texas Rangers’ Jacob deGrom shut down, will miss 12-15 months
Jacob deGrom’s first season with the Texas Rangers is over.
The Rangers announced Tuesday that they are shutting down the right-handed starting pitcher for the rest of the season because of an injury. And they don’t expect him to return to the mound anytime soon.
“ He [Jacob deGrom] underwent further testing last night,” General Manager Chris Young said Tuesday before the Rangers played the Cardinals at Globe Life Field. “The results of that MRI showed that we have not made progress in fact, we’ve identified some damage to the ligament. After consulting with Dr. Meister and our medical team Jacob is electing to have a ligament repaired.”
Degrom will have surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and aims to return in 12-15 months though Young said he couldn’t commit to a timeline.
“We do feel this is what is right for Jacob and his career,” said Young, “We now have clarity and can move forward and prepare to have a healthy Jacob deGrom hopefully sometime by the end of next season, but no promises on the timetable.”
DeGrom pitched in just six games, posting a 2-0 record and a 2.67 ERA for the Rangers. He signed a five-year $185 million contract in the offseason.
DeGrom was choked up speaking with the media after his prognosis was revealed.
“Anytime you’re told you’re not gonna be out there for a while it’s tough, but you know I went through this before and I know what it takes to come back,” said deGrom.
Degrom said he would help the team as much as he can from the clubhouse.
“Be around to help in any way I can, we’ve got a special group here and to not be able to be out there and help them win that stinks,” said deGrom.
Rangers Manager Bruce Bochy said that deGrom was a great teammate and would come back better and stronger after rehab.
The former New York Met has a history of injury problems. DeGrom’s first major injury was a nerve issue in his pitching arm that occurred in 2016 and ended his season in September. In 2021 deGrom suffered an elbow injury in July of 2021 that also ended his season.
DeGrom started the 2022 season off with a right scapula stress fracture that kept him off the field until August.
He came to spring training this year slowed by an offseason injury and suffered shoulder and wrist injures earlier in the season.
He is the second starting pitcher to be shut down for the season. Jake Odorizzi, also obtained in the offseason, was shut down earlier this season because of a shoulder injury. He had surgery and is expected to return in 2024.
