As the Rangers seek to continue their hot start to the 2023 season, they will have to do so without starting pitcher Jacob deGrom.
An MRI on Tuesday revealed that the right-handed ace partially tore his ulnar collateral ligament. Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reported deGrom will undergo Tommy John surgery next week and is projected to be out until the middle of the 2024 season.
“This stinks,” deGrom said, per Grant. “It’s not ideal. But at least we know what it is now. I want to get it fixed and will set a goal to be back before the end of next year.”
The news about deGrom comes after Texas transferred him to the 60-day injured list Monday to make room on the active roster for pitcher Spencer Howard. DeGrom, a four-time All-Star, is 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA through six games this season.
His last start was on April 28, when the Rangers faced the Yankees. DeGrom left that game after 3 2/3 innings due to right elbow inflammation.
DeGrom, who turns 35 on June 19, joined the Rangers on a five-year, $185 million deal after nine years with the Mets. During deGrom’s Mets tenure, he won the National League Cy Young in 2018 and ’19, earned the ’14 NL Rookie of the Year award and recorded back-to-back seasons as the NL strikeout leader in ’19 and ’20.
The Rangers (39-20) currently sit atop the American League West.
