deGrom brings the heat in 1st rehab start since UCL surgery
Batters, beware: Jacob deGrom is back on the mound.
In his first professional appearance since April 28, 2023, the Rangers right-hander showed off his electric stuff for Double-A Frisco on Thursday. Making his first rehab outing since undergoing right UCL repair surgery last season, deGrom started for the RoughRiders and pitched the first two innings.
After giving up a run on back-to-back hits to open the ballgame, deGrom settled down to strike out the next two batters. He fanned Romeo Sanabria on a fastball that was clocked at a reported 100 mph, then got Marcos Castañon to chase a slider down and away. deGrom struck out Joshua Mears on a slider to begin the second inning before getting two quick ground-ball outs to end the inning and cap off his day.
It was an important step for deGrom in the first of what manager Bruce Bochy previously estimated would be four rehab outings, with the right-hander set to throw more pitches with each passing appearance. A return to the Majors could happen around mid-September for deGrom, who made just six starts in his first season with the Rangers before his injury.