'Light at the end of the tunnel': deGrom set to face hitters

ARLINGTON -- Rangers starter Jacob deGrom cleared another hurdle Saturday on his long journey back from Tommy John surgery, throwing a final bullpen session that went successfully enough that he’s expected to face hitters in his next test.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner threw 45 pitches in the bullpen Saturday, simulating three innings of work.

“Everything felt good,” deGrom said. “It’s definitely exciting [to face hitters again]. This is a long process. Where I was at, throwing these three-ups, I was seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Now you’re going to have somebody step in, and that’s when it’s starting to get close. I’m definitely looking forward to it.”

deGrom has pitched in progressively more intense bullpens each time, starting with just his fastball and changeup before eventually mixing in all his pitches.

“There’s still some work to be done as far as location,” deGrom said. “But having a batter step in, the intensity will change a little bit, and that’s where you really find out where you’re at ... you can throw bullpens all you want, but when somebody steps in there, then you kind of get an extra gear.”

Manager Bruce Bochy did not volunteer a schedule as to when deGrom’s first action against hitters would happen, but it’s imminent.

“That’s coming up in a few days,” Bochy said. “He’s got to be excited about that. It’s been a long road for him, and the way he’s throwing the ball now, it looks like he’s not too far away ... I can’t tell you how many rehab outings he’ll have, but we’ll go as he goes.”

The bullpen deGrom threw Saturday brought those outings closer to reality.

“He wanted to fine-tune everything and he felt good about where he was with his delivery, his command,” Bochy said. “I watched it -- it was pretty impressive.”

deGrom was one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers over nine seasons with the Mets, but deGrom’s first season as a Ranger was interrupted by a torn ulnar collateral ligament early last year. He made six starts, going 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings.

The Rangers won every game deGrom pitched in. Getting him back healthy soon would be a huge boost for the defending World Series champs, whose chances of reaching the postseason are growing more remote.

“Obviously, I’ve been zero help this year, so the goal is to get out there and help us,” deGrom said. “Hopefully that’s not too far away.”