Texas Rangers ace Jacob deGrom dazzles in first spring training start
The Texas Rangers had a pair of highly anticipated debuts over the weekend when Jacob deGrom and Wyatt Langford played their first 2025 spring training games.
Langford was sidelined with a left oblique injury he suffered earlier in spring training. In his first two games, against the Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks, he went 2-for-5 with a walk and a run scored.
“Felt great, baseball-wise, but mostly physically I felt really good. It was good to get out there and get my feet underneath me,” said Langford,”
DeGrom has a stellar spring training start
In his first spring training start of the season, deGrom was dominant as he allowed no runs or hits in two innings of work with three strikeouts,
“Felt good, we took it a little slow this spring but getting out there obviously is a big plus, was able to locate pretty well,” said deGrom, “Everything felt good, the main thing’s health looking forward to getting back out there.”
The two-time Cy-Young Award winner explained his thought and ramp-up process process throughout spring training.
“A little bit slower ramp-up, I was fine with that, and like I said the goal is to go out there as many times as I can and make as many starts to help this team win. I’m sure there’s gonna be some sort of discussion at some point about innings, what we’re willing to throw,” said deGrom, “You don’t wanna get in a spot where you’re at X amount of innings and you still got two months to play... The slow ramp looks better than the stopping and going again so I think that’s why we decided to do that.”
DeGrom only made three starts last season after recovering from Tommy John surgery. He is hoping to reverse his injury luck following his first two seasons in Texas.
Jack Leiter continues to impress
After a strong start to his spring training, Leiter has continued to pitch well for the Rangers. In three games, he has a 2.25 ERA off six hits with one walk and eight strikeouts in nine innings of work.
Leiter explained his mindset after his latest performance against the Padres where he earned the win, giving up two runs off two hits in four innings of work with two strikeouts.
“Feels like I’m throwing all five pitches for strikes and even the misses are competitive misses and I feel in control, under control which is always a good thing to feel. Just trusting the defense behind me and trusting Jonah behind the plate,” said Leiter.
The Vanderbilt product made his major league debut for the Rangers last season and is making a strong case for making the opening-day roster.
