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