After rehab starts, deGrom, Scherzer hope to rejoin Rangers next week
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ARLINGTON -- As one of the Rangers¡¯ top pitching prospects Jack Leiter toed the rubber at Globe Life Field on Saturday night, Texas ace Jacob deGrom did the same about 35 miles away at Riders Field.
deGrom made his fourth rehab start Saturday, tossing four scoreless innings, allowing one hit, with five strikeouts for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders against the Wichita Wind Surge. He was maybe a bit too efficient and threw just 49 pitches. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said on Saturday that deGrom was originally scheduled for four innings or 60 pitches.
¡°I feel really good,¡± deGrom told Bally Sports Southwest. ¡°We thought it was really important to make this last start, get one more up and just work on my offspeed mainly. Trying to iron all that out before going back to trying to help the team. ¡ I was just trying not to do too much with [my slider]. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve been out there competing, so those are adjustments that I¡¯m going to have to make. I¡¯m sure there¡¯s gonna be more throughout the process. I¡¯m ready to get back to help the Texas Rangers.¡±
The Rangers' ace hasn¡¯t played in a big league game since April 28, 2023, after which he landed on the injured list with elbow inflammation. He had surgery that June and has been rehabbing his way back ever since.
As of now, the plan is for deGrom to rejoin the club to make his season debut with the big league team during the West Coast road trip to Arizona and Seattle from Sept. 10-15.
¡°Like I said, if it all goes well, he'll be pitching for us next time around,¡± Bochy said. ¡°It's pretty cool because it's been a long road as these guys go through the rehab on the Tommy John.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the goal, so hopefully,¡± deGrom reiterated after his start in Frisco.
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The Texas Minor Leaguers are eating really well all over the place this weekend, as Max Scherzer also made a rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Saturday. The right-hander opened with three perfect innings in Las Vegas against the Aviators before an intentional walk and hit-by-pitch with two outs in the fourth inning.
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He then struck out the last batter he faced, completing four no-hit innings. He struck out eight batters.
Scherzer opened the 2024 season on the injured list as he recovered from offseason back surgery. Initially, he was set for an early return in mid-May before he was shut down due to a nerve issue after making one rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock in April.
Scherzer was activated on June 23 and threw a total of 39 1/3 innings in eight starts, good for a 3.89 ERA. He then landed on the injured list again with shoulder fatigue on Aug. 2 (retroactive to July 31), which he connected back to the initial nerve issue.
He believes he¡¯s remedied the issue and is set to finish the season pitching with the big league club. He should rejoin with deGrom on the West Coast trip if things continue to trend upward.
¡°I definitely want to get back out there and pitch and show that I'm healthy,¡± Scherzer said earlier this homestand. ¡°I'm not injured. I get this nerve issue raises some red flags. I get it. But this wasn't something structurally wrong with my elbow or shoulder. For whatever reason, I was in a bad mechanic [state], and if that is what alleviates the nerve, then it's been a painful learning lesson. You'd rather be pitching healthy than not.¡±