A lot has happened since the last time Jacob deGrom took the mound for the Texas Rangers, but he is now on the way back after throwing off of a mound for the first time since having reconstructive right elbow surgery just over a year ago, throwing 15 pitches with none of them being breaking balls. After throwing, deGrom spoke on what it was like to get back on the mound in his recovery.

“I'm not sure of the timeline, but feeling really good,” Jacob deGrom said, via ESPN. “Touched the mound for the first time today, so that went really well. So one day at a time. I got two more times this week. And then just keep moving forward from there.”

The Rangers signed deGrom to a five-year, $185 million contract before the start of the 2023 season, and he went down with his elbow injury in the first half of the year. Despite that, Texas went on to win the World Series for the first time in franchise history.

Before coming to the Rangers, deGrom was one of, if not the best pitcher in MLB for years with the New York Mets. Injuries have cropped up in recent years, but there is no doubting his talent if he is able to get back on the mound for the Rangers. There is no doubt that Texas could use him back in the rotation this season.

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Rangers waiting for reinforcements in the rotation

The Rangers are not only waiting for deGrom to make his return, but the same goes for Max Scherzer, who they acquired in a trade with the Mets last season. Max Scherzer is likely to debut this season before deGrom. The rotation of Nathan Eovaldi, Dane Dunning, Jon Gray, Michael Lorenzen and Andrew Heaney has struggled to this point, with the ERA among starters sitting at 4.14, which is 20th best in MLB, according to Fox Sports.

Texas has disappointed this season trying to defend its World Series title. The team sits at 33-39 overall, tied for second in the American League West with the Houston Astros, another disappointing team. The Rangers and Astros are both nine games back of the Seattle Mariners, who are in first at 43-31. They are also seven games out of the final Wild Card spot in the American League, which is held by the Minnesota Twins.

The Rangers will try to recapture some of the magic they had a season ago. They will need to do it fast to try to make the playoffs, whether that be via the Wild Card or chasing down the Mariners to win the division. It will be worth monitoring the progress of deGrom and Scherzer, and whether or not the Rangers are buyers at the trade deadline that approaches at the end of July.