Texas Rangers’ Jacob deGrom announces that he’s prepared to start his rehab assignment

Two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom faced live hitters for the third time in recent weeks on Saturday and said he feels ready to start a rehab assignment next week, aiming to pitch for the Texas Rangers for the first time since June 2023.

“My arm feels great except now it’s just been, what, how many months? Fourteen?” said deGrom, 36, who threw about 45 pitches over three innings. “You’ve got your guys (teammates) in there. You go face other guys, and I think that’ll help a little bit.”

If he begins his rehab assignment next week, it would likely be with Double-A Frisco.

“It looks like Jacob’s ready to go. We’ll see how he comes out of this,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’ll be starting rehab here soon.”

Rangers pitcher Jon Gray also faced hitters for three innings on Saturday, and Bochy said he’s ready to return to the starting rotation.

Texas signed deGrom to a $185 million, five-year contract before the 2023 season. He pitched only 30 1/3 innings before the end of April and had surgery on June 12. He was 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA and 45 strikeouts.

DeGrom said on Saturday that he was frustrated with not being able to keep his pitches down, which he attributed to not getting full extension.

“That’s the last thing to come,” he said.

He didn’t estimate how many innings he’d like to pitch after returning but acknowledged that simply getting back into big league games this season is important.

“Get out there this year, kind of treat it like a normal offseason, and get ready for next year,” he said.

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Minor league update for 8/20/24

Thomas Ireland started for Down East, going five innings, allowing four runs, walking two and striking out two. Kai Wynyard struck out one and walked two in two innings, allowing two runs.

Echedry Vargas was 2 for 4 with four stolen bases. Casey Cook had a hit, a walk and a stolen base. Pablo Guerrero and Jose DeJesus each had a hit.

Down East box score

Hickory starter Aidan Curry threw five innings, striking out three and walking one while allowing one run. D.J. Peters allowed two runs in two innings, walking one.

Malcolm Moore hit his first professional home run. Sebastian Walcott and Cam Cauley each had a hit. Yeison Morrobel had a hit. Ian Moller doubled.

Hickory box score

Larson Kindreich pitched an inning for Frisco, striking out two and walking two.

Cody Freeman doubled. Abi Ortiz was 1 for 2 with a pair of walks. Aaron Zavala had a pair of hits.

Frisco box score

Robby Ahlstrom allowed three runs in an inning of work for Round Rock, walking one and giving up a homer.

Justin Foscue homered and walked. Blaine Crim was 3 for 5 with a double and a homer. Sam Huff doubled.