Coming off a 3-2 win against the Seattle Mariners, the Texas Rangers are looking for back-to-back wins after starting a one-game winning streak. They had some injury concerns, however, during their 2-1 win against the Mariners on Monday.
Their ace pitcher, Jacob deGrom, was taken out of the game in the fifth inning with right knee soreness. He said he felt some issues during warmups but insisted on pitching. He avoided a serious injury, as an MRI came back clean, revealing no structural damage in his knee.
All of this came after an impressive performance in which he pitched five innings, threw 78 pitches, and recorded six strikeouts in the win. Fortunately on Wednesday, deGrom spoke with reporters and had an an encouraging update. "Jacob deGrom expects to make his next start on his normal turn. He said his right knee, which has no structural damage, feels much better today," reported h/t Jeff Wilson of DLLS_Sports.
Given his history of recurring arm injuries, including two Tommy John surgeries, any health concern surrounding deGrom draws immediate attention. While he has consistently returned to elite form, his durability remains a key question, making even minor issues significant for the Rangers moving forward.
However, this has not affected deGrom’s ability to perform at a high level when healthy. Last season, across 30 starts, he posted a 2.97 ERA with 172.1 innings pitched, 185 strikeouts, and a 0.921 WHIP, reestablishing himself as one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers.
His performance earned him an All-Star selection and an eighth-place finish in Cy Young Award voting, highlighting his ability to bounce back after missing the All-Star Game for three consecutive years.
As he plays in this new season, deGrom will look to build on that success, continuing to rely on his high-spin slider and deceptive changeup to overpower hitters.
© Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
deGrom has established himself as a premier pitcher in the league. He was drafted by the New York Mets in the ninth round (272nd overall) of the 2010 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Stetson University. deGrom has earned five All-Star selections, back-to-back Cy Young Awards, won Rookie of the Year, and earned an ERA title.
He has been a consistent 98.7 mph fastball pitcher and is highly effective at pounding the strike zone, rarely walking batters while maintaining high strikeout rates. deGrom is known for his quick innings, often keeping his pitch count low while maintaining high velocity.
He signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Texas Rangers on Dec. 2, 2022. The deal, which runs through the 2027 season, includes a full no-trade clause and a conditional option for 2028.
