Jacob deGrom

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom is ready for the start of the 2025 MLB season after appearing in just nine games over the past two years following elbow surgery.

The 36-year-old's three starts last season were pivotal in shaping his approach to the offseason.

"That way I could treat it like a normal offseason and not feel like I was in rehab mode the whole time," deGrom said Saturday, per the Associated Press. "So that's what this offseason has been, you know, normal throwing. Been off the mound already and everything feels good."

The two-time Cy Young Award winner has already started throwing off the mound in preparation for the season, saying everything feels "normal." Typically waiting until Feb. 1 to start throwing, the veteran chose to ease into spring training at a slower pace, per the Associated Press.

DeGrom underwent a cautious recovery from Tommy John surgery last year after posting a 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and a 14:1 K:BB ratio over 10.2 innings in his three starts.

He has three years and $115 million remaining on his contract with the Rangers after signing a five-year, $185 million deal in 2023.

During his nine seasons with the New York Mets, deGrom recorded a 2.52 ERA and a 0.998 WHIP. His return will be significant for the Rangers, who finished 78-84 and third in the AL West last season.

"One of the things I'm most excited about is a healthy season from Jacob, and for our fans to see what that looks like, and how good he is," Texas' president of baseball operations Chris Young said, per the Associated Press. "It's just electric, and coming to the ballpark every day that he's pitching, knowing that we've got a great chance to win the game, it's an exciting feeling. Our fans truly haven't experienced that over the course of a season. We're excited and hopeful that this is the year they get to see that."

With his fastball hitting 98 mph during his final start last season, the veteran was candid about his cautious approach to recovery, considering his age.

"In those games, you know, it's still a thought in the back of your mind, you just came back from a major surgery and you probably don't get another one at my age," deGrom said, according to the Associated Press. "So it was, hey, is everything good? And then like I said, was able to check those boxes off in this offseason, treat it normal."

As he enters his 12th season, deGrom feels much more confident in his recovery.

"Just throw the ball to the target and not think about anything," deGrom said, per Associated Press. "So, yeah, I think I can get back to where I was."

Texas Rangers star pitcher Jacob deGrom is set to make his 2024 season debut on Friday night.

Jacob deGrom returns from injury and makes his first start of the season TONIGHT as the @Rangers meet the Mariners in Seattle at 10:10 pm ET on @MLBNetwork. pic.twitter.com/BUZsl3wb0w

— MLB (@MLB) September 13, 2024

The two-time Cy Young Award winner hasn't stepped on the mound in the majors since April 2023, as he underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament that ultimately caused him to miss over a year.

The 36-year-old made four rehab starts before joining the Rangers in Arizona earlier this week for a series against the Diamondbacks.

He didn't show any signs of rust throughout his four minor-league appearances, with deGrom striking out 15 batters compared to just one walk in 10.2 innings of work. He also posted a 0.84 ERA.

The Rangers signed deGrom to a five-year, $185 million contract following the 2022 season. He was dominant on the mound throughout his first six starts in Texas, finishing with a 2-0 record to go along with a 2.67 ERA before he needed surgery.

The team was still able to succeed without the ace, defeating the Diamondbacks in the Fall Classic and capturing the first World Series victory in franchise history.

Texas' 2024 season has been marred by injuries, specifically to the team's rotation. The Rangers currently sit 7.5 games back from the final American League wild card spot, as their 4.33 ERA among starting pitchers ranks No. 21 among all MLB teams.

Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer will also provide a boost to Texas' starting pitching, as he's currently set to start after deGrom in Saturday's matchup with the Mariners. Scherzer hasn't pitched since July 30 due to a shoulder issue.

The Rangers will look to make a last-ditch effort to secure a postseason berth with deGrom returning to action on Friday night, with the game starting at 10:10 p.m. ET.

We've come to it at last. The moment when it finally seems like Justin Verlander is washed.

Inevitable, perhaps, but it feels more ominous than it should under the circumstances.

In case anyone needs an update on what Verlander has been up to, it's not pretty. The veteran has given up 19 runs in four starts since coming off the injured list on Aug. 21. He now has a 5.30 ERA, his highest for a season in which he's made at least 10 starts.

PRIME. TIME. PAVIN. pic.twitter.com/U6ocfrImRq

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) September 8, 2024

There are only two full weeks left in the regular season, which is likely to end with the Houston Astros atop the American League West. And with the rest of their rotation on fire, there would seem to be a chance of Verlander not being a part of it come October.

As jarring as that would be, it would feel like a fitting end to a season in which future Hall of Fame pitchers fading from relevance has been a consistent theme.

It's also been a rough one for Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer and Jacob deGrom. The first two barely have more combined starts (15) than Verlander (14) has on his own, while deGrom will finally return from his second Tommy John surgery on Friday.

This year won't mark the end of the line for all four of these guys. But it feels like some sort of end, anyway, and it's hard to say with any certainty that their shoes will be filled.

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Verlander, Kershaw, Scherzer and deGrom Were the Next Generation

It just feels like ace generations come in waves, doesn't it?

Even if you only go as far back as the 1990s, you can see practically see handoffs happening at various points. Like, for example, from Roger Clemens, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine to Pedro Martinez and Randy Johnson. And then to Roy Halladay, CC Sabathia and Zack Greinke.

I'm aware of the awkwardness inherent in saying that Verlander, Kershaw, Scherzer and deGrom were the next wave. Verlander debuted in 2005, whereas Kershaw and Scherzer debuted in 2008 and deGrom didn't come along until 2014.

What the four of them undeniably did, however, was own the 2010s.

There were 18 Cy Young Awards handed out between 2011 and 2019, and they won 10 of those. It's a big reason why all four give off future Hall of Fame energy, with only deGrom's candidacy coming with a question mark in place of an exclamation mark.

But there's at least a fair discussion to be had there, if for no other reason than he's been granted GOAT status in the best of times.

"He's pretty much the best, maybe the best to ever pitch."

- Mookie Betts on Jacob deGrom pic.twitter.com/BRXpz4geZS

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) September 1, 2022

Right now, though, the best of times for these guys feels like forever ago. Whereas they once combined for 26.4 fWAR at their peak in 2018, this year their total output is 1.7 fWAR.

The 36-year-old Kershaw's contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers has a player option for 2025, but he's previously talked about retiring if he doesn't feel like he can be an above average pitcher. Verlander, 41, and Scherzer, 40, are both free agents this winter, and only one of them has committed to continue pitching.

As for deGrom, he has three years left on his contract with the Texas Rangers. But he just turned 36 on June 19, and the history of pitchers who've had Tommy John twice isn't inspiring.

This is therefore a good time for one of those handoffs, but there's a problem.

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Where Is the Next Generation?

Out of the top 25 starters on the fWAR leaderboard for 2024, only three are 25 or younger. Which would be shocking if it wasn't par for the course.

Since MLB's 30-team era began in 1998, the last six seasons are also the six worst seasons for 25-and-under starters in terms of fWAR. Whereas they did so only once between 1998 and 2021, 25-and-under starters have accounted for under 20 percent of all fWAR produced by starters in each of the last three seasons.

This is most notably a scarcity problem. As recently as 2008, 25-and-under starters accounted for 32.9 percent of all starts. That rate is now at 22.4 percent in 2024.

If you want definitive answers for where all the good young starters have gone, I can't help you. I can only present these three theories:

1. Teams Don't Value High School Pitchers Anymore

In the past, it wasn't uncommon for teams to gobble up high school pitchers early in the draft. An average of 10 prep arms went in the first round between 1998 and 2018.

By contrast, a total of 27 prep pitchers have gone in the first round since 2019. That's 4.5 per year, and it took until the No. 24 pick in this year's draft for a prep arm to finally come off the board. That's a record low.

This equals fewer opportunities for phenoms to shoot through the minors and debut in the majors at, say, 20 or 21. Like, for example, Sabathia, Greinke and Kershaw were able to do.

2. It's the Injuries

If I told you that Tommy John surgery, specifically, was a big problem for young pitchers, you'd probably believe me just based on anecdotal evidence.

It's nonetheless about as bad as you'd think, at least insofar as Jon Roegele's Tommy John database is instructive. It only counts operations reported by the media, but it shows that amateur and minor league pitchers account for more surgeries than major league pitchers.

Of course, there are more amateur and minor league pitchers out there than there are major league pitchers. But it's still far from the best-case scenario here: Pitchers get to the majors first, and then blow out their elbows.

3. Teams Can Now Mass-Produce Pitching Talent

For anyone unfamiliar with the term "Borg," they're Star Trek villains whose gimmick is absorbing the distinctive qualities of individuals into a collective of warrior drones.

Now that I've said that, I can say this: Pitchers are basically Borg now.

Seemingly every pitcher in MLB today has good stuff, particularly where velocity is concerned. It's a team-driven revolution and its success rate only seems to be getting better. Heck, even Aaron Civale and Frankie Montas only needed minor tweaks to start thriving as Milwaukee Brewers.

Granted, teams still need to cultivate young pitching. But in an environment where the youngest, freshest arms aren't necessarily the best bets for good pitching at any given moment, it makes sense that there would be an opportunity vacuum for those arms.

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At Least There's Paul Skenes

On the plus side, arguably the best pitcher in MLB right now is a 22-year-old rookie.

Though fWAR doesn't value him as highly, Paul Skenes is only the fourth 22-or-younger pitcher since 2004 to achieve a 5-rWAR season. And since he debuted for the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 11, his 2.10 ERA is better than anyone's.

All this is happening just a year after the Bucs chose Skenes No. 1 overall, so he's almost certainly not a finished product yet. Such a notion only makes it more tempting to imagine his prime being on the level of a Verlander, a Kershaw, a Scherzer or a deGrom.

143 Ks. 🔥

Paul Skenes now holds the @Pirates record for strikeouts by a rookie since 1900. pic.twitter.com/76UNRcQEmj

— MLB (@MLB) September 9, 2024

Other 25-and-under legacy ace candidates include Hunter Greene, who might have the best pure stuff of any starter, and Garrett Crochet, who is striking out 12.8 batters per nine innings. There's also Hunter Brown, who's rocking a 2.31 ERA.

Let's also not forget that the most expensive pitcher in history is likewise still only in his age-25 season: Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

He came to the Los Angeles Dodgers with a sub-2.00 ERA in seven seasons in Japan. A rotator cuff strain cost him about three months, but he still has a 2.34 ERA if you take out his rough opening act in Korea way back on March 21.

Others who deserve name-drops include Tanner Bibee, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo and Grayson Rodriguez. On the prospect front, there's Jackson Jobe and the newly promoted Kumar Rocker, who may yet live up to the sensational hype he had in his heyday at Vanderbilt.

Granted, simply listing off names of guys who could form MLB's next generation of aces is no guarantee that the formation will actually happen. Past results never guarantee future performance, and these guys barely have past results as it is.

Still, hope will do whenever certainty is lacking. Perhaps it's not the case that there is no bright future for all of ace-dom after Verlander, Kershaw, Scherzer and deGrom.

It may be that it's just not in focus yet.

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Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.

After being off the mound since June 2023, Texas Rangers star pitcher Jacob deGrom is nearing a return.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner faced live hitters for the third time on Saturday and said he feels ready for a rehab assignment soon, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).

"My arm feels great except now it's just been, what, how many months? Fourteen?" deGrom said. "You've got your [teammates] in there. You go face other guys, and I think that'll help a little bit."

DeGrom's rehab assignment would probably be with Double-A Frisco, according to the Associated Press, and manager Bruce Bochy is optimistic about his progress.

"It looks like Jacob's ready to go. We'll see how he comes out of this," Bochy said. "He'll be starting rehab here soon."

DeGrom, who signed with the Rangers ahead of the 2023 season on a five-year, $185 million contract, has made his six appearances for Texas. He had 45 strikeouts, a 2.67 ERA and a 0.76 WHIP in his limited action last season.

DeGrom underwent successful surgery last June to repair a torn UCL and has been working towards his comeback ever since. It was reported in June that he was aiming for an August return, but that date might have to be pushed back slightly depending on how well his rehab start goes.

Despite winning the World Series a year ago, a postseason appearance doesn't seem probable for the Rangers at this point. They currently sit in third place in the AL West at 56-67 and would need a miraculous finish to stay in position for a wild-card spot.

Texas' playoff chances dimming likely means it won't rush to get deGrom back on the mound and will instead focus on getting him healthy for 2025.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer is set to make his season debut on Sunday, and fellow starting pitcher Jacob deGrom is reportedly expected to return to the mound in August, per USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

"Welcome back Cy Young winner Max Scherzer, who is scheduled to make his season debut Sunday for the Texas Rangers," Nightengale wrote. "Fellow Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom is expected to join him in August."

In his first season with the Rangers a year ago, deGrom played just six games after suffering a torn UCL. He underwent successful surgery last June and has been rehabbing since. Last week, deGrom threw off the mound for the first time since the surgery.

In six appearances last season, deGrom went 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA and had 45 strikeouts across 30.1 innings pitched.

Scherzer underwent back surgery in December and has been rehabbing in the minors in the early parts of the season. He'll make his season debut against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon.

The three-time Cy Young Award winner joined the Rangers from the New York Mets in a trade deadline acquisition last July. In eight appearances, he had 53 strikeouts, a 3.20 ERA and a 4-2 record.

With Scherzer debuting Sunday and deGrom nearing a return as well, Texas is looking to pick up some momentum heading into the second half of the season as it looks to make another World Series run.

The Texas Rangers will get quite the midseason boost in the quest to repeat as World Series Champions.

The team will await the respective returns of starting pitchers Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer in 2024, and the timeline for that is projected to be around midseason, per ESPN.

deGrom confirmed that he and Scherzer expect to be re-joining the team around the trade deadline at the Rangers fanfest celebration and said that he is feeling pretty healthy.

"My arm's feeling really good," deGrom said, per ESPN. "It's just what is smart. You don't want to push it because you want to continue to pitch here for the next however many years. So that's where we've got to kind of take a look at what is the best plan moving forward, whenever that time comes."

Scherzer said that he had been able to have a successful initial recovery period following his offseason surgery to remove a herniated disc in his lower back.

"Now it's just in the stage of just building back up of where I can get back into it and at the same time [figuring out] how to keep the arm primed as you're navigating something where the biggest concerns are bending, lifting, twisting," Scherzer said.

Scherzer was able to make it through the Rangers World Series run in 2023. deGrom, on the other hand, wasn't as lucky. He injured his elbow in April and underwent Tommy John surgery, ending his season.

The two hurlers will likely have at least some adjustment period after returning, but the high ceiling potential for each is worth the wait. deGrom is a two-time Cy Young winner, four time All-Star and possesses a career ERA of 2.53 and a 84-57 record.

Sherzer has three Cy Young award's, eight All-Star nods and a record of 214-108 with a 3.15 ERA. While both are in the later stages of their careers, they still will be excellent rotation pieces for this talented Rangers team.

Texas will need to navigate a significant portion of the season without the dynamic starters but the duos imminent return sets the Rangers up to be a dangerous force come the postseason.