SURPRISE, Ariz. — It was basically playing catch from a mound. Not much effort at all. Still, it was silky smooth and left the Rangers exhaling.
Jacob deGrom has returned to the mound.
On Thursday morning, eight days after camp started, deGrom threw his first bullpen session of the spring after reporting with some tightness. Throwing to bullpen catcher Patrick Cantwell on a mound at the far corner of the Rangers’ camp — easier to be out from under prying eyes — deGrom threw 22 pitches. He began with 10 off a half-height mound, then stepped on to the regulation mound for 12 more. When he was done, he smiled, shook hands with pitching coach Mike Maddux and Cantwell. And everybody else sighed a breath of relief.
