Texas ace Jacob deGrom set for season-ending surgery after inking $185m deal

Texas ace Jacob deGrom will have season-ending Tommy John surgery, cutting short his first season after the oft-injured right-hander signed a $185m, five-year contract with the Rangers.

General manager Chris Young said Tuesday the decision on surgery came after an MRI on deGrom’s ailing right elbow.

The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner hadn’t pitched since 28 April, when he exited early against the the New York Yankees because of injury concerns for the second time in a span of three starts. The announcement of surgery came a day after deGrom was transferred to the 60-day injured list.

Young said the latest MRI showed more inflammation and significant structural damage that wasn’t there on the scan after deGrom exited the game against the Yankees.

The Rangers signed deGrom, who turns 35 later this month, in free agency after he had played his first nine big league seasons with the Mets. He was limited by injuries to 156 1/3 innings over 26 starts his last two years in New York.

DeGrom had a career-low 1.08 ERA over 92 innings during the 2021 season before missing the final three months with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow.

The four-time All-Star didn’t make his first big-league start last year until 2 August after being shut down late in spring training because of a stress reaction in his right scapula.

Texas has won all six games started by deGrom (2-0), but the right-hander has pitched only 30 1/3 innings. He has a 2.67 ERA with 45 strikeouts and four walks. He threw 3 2/3 scoreless innings against the New York Yankees on 28 April before leaving that game because of discomfort in his arm.