Texas Rangers’ Jacob deGrom not worried about spring training setback

It’s the first few days of spring training and the Texas Rangers new $185 million ace pitcher Jacob deGrom is ailing.

Based on the pitcher’s history, should Rangers fans be worried?

After all, the right-handed pitcher has a history of injuries that limited him to only 11 starts in 2022 and 15 in 2021. Last season he missed games because of issues with his forearm, his shoulder, his elbow and his right side.

So, when he showed up in Surprise, Ariz., this week and was immediately shut down, it caused some concern.

He, however, is not worried.

“Obviously what I’ve been through the past several years, I’ve dealt with some things, this is very minor,” DeGrom said. “Left side was a little tight. I mentioned that to them.”

“I was still throwing at home,’ deGrom said. “When I got here, they said ‘Let’s take a couple of days and knock this all of the way out.’ “

He said he had been working out at home, including six mound sessions before arriving in Surprise for spring training. In the past, he would only throw off the mound two or three times before heading to spring training.

General manager Chris Young said the decision to delay deGrom’s camp debut was a precautionary move.

The expected ace of the Rangers’ pitching staff posted a 5-4 record and a 3.08 ERA in 2022. He has an 82-57 record in 202 career starts with a 2.52 ERA.

The Rangers have rebuilt their starting rotation around him and new acquisitions Andrew Heaney, Nathan Eovaldi and Jake Odorizzi to join returning hurler Martin Perez.

This story was originally published February 17, 2023 at 9:15 AM.