ARLINGTON — Bruce Bochy, manager of the Rangers, has a habit of visiting the team’s bullpen to oversee the recovery of his pitchers, and sometimes, he’ll even step up to the plate to offer them a real-time batting challenge.
This past Friday, Bochy ventured to the area near the right-center field wall to monitor Jacob deGrom’s progress. The star right-hander has been rehabilitating from his second Tommy John surgery, performed in June 2023, by participating in bullpen sessions for the past two weeks.
After witnessing deGrom’s session, where the pitcher reached 98 mph in speed, Bochy expressed optimism about the progress, stating, “I wanted to start him in five days—that’s how well I thought he threw.” Though below his typical triple-digit fastball, hitting 98 mph is a strong sign for deGrom, given that he is still some weeks away from his season debut.
Despite the high speeds reached, deGrom himself remained focused on other aspects of his recovery, particularly his mechanics, which he feels have significantly improved. “Yesterday felt like the most dialed in on the mechanics I’ve been,” he commented. Moving forward, deGrom plans to expand his rehabilitation routine to include 30 pitches twice a week and will begin incorporating changeups along with his fastballs.
The primary focus for pitchers coming back from Tommy John surgery typically revolves around command, but Bochy felt reassured by deGrom’s performance, noting his comfort in the 95 to 97 mph range and his precise pitch placement. “He was comfortable at 95 to 97, it was nice and easy, and he was locating well,” Bochy remarked. “It was impressive to watch.”
DeGrom’s ongoing recovery and imminent return continue to be a beacon of hope for the Rangers, as they anticipate the return of one of baseball’s top pitchers to their rotation.
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