Texas Rangers’ $185m pitcher Jacob deGrom undergoes successful Tommy John surgery
Jacob deGrom, a $185 million pitcher for the Texas Rangers, underwent successful elbow reconstructive surgery today…and now begins his YEAR-LONG recovery
- Jacob deGrom is only a year into his five-year, $185 million deal with the Texas Rangers
- He will be out for the next 12-14 months following Monday’s Tommy John surgery
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Jacob deGrom underwent reconstructive surgery on Monday to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, and Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said the procedure went well.
The typical recovery time after surgery, commonly known as Tommy John surgery, is a minimum of 12-14 months. Rangers team doctor Dr. Keith Meister performed the surgery, which took place a week before deGrom’s 35th birthday.
Texas signed deGrom to a five-year, $185 million free agency deal last winter, as the right-hander completed two seasons injured with the New York Mets.
Before deGrom (2-0, 2.67 ERA) was injured, the AL West-leading Rangers won all six games that the two-time National League winner Cy Young Award started. He last pitched against the New York Yankees on April 28, when he retired early for the second time in three starts due to injury concerns. The four-time All-Star struckout 45 batters with only four walks in 30 1/3 innings.
An MRI last week showed more inflammation and significant structural damage in the ligament, and the team announced that deGrom would undergo seasonal surgery. A scan the day after he left the game against the Yankees, and before five bullpen sessions that followed, showed only inflammation.
Jacob deGrom has suffered a series of worrying injuries and had surgery today
The end of deGrom’s time with the Mets was also hampered, but today’s surgery was a success
The pitcher is now expected to miss about 12-14 months while he recovers from the injury
DeGrom spent his first nine major league seasons with the Mets, but pitched just 156 1/3 innings over 26 starts in his final two years in New York. He missed the last three months of 2021 with right forearm tightness and a sprained elbow, then only made his first big league start on August 2 last year after being shut down late in spring training due to a stress reaction in his right shoulder blade. .
After being drafted by the Mets in 2010, deGrom underwent Tommy John surgery while still in the low minors. He missed the entire 2011 season and didn’t make his big league-debut until 2014.
The surgery, which is expected to keep him out for at least a year, will activate Texas’s conditional option on deGrom’s contract for a sixth season for $20 million, $30 million or $37 million. The 2028 price will depend on deGrom’s performance under contract and health beyond the 2027 season, the fifth year of the deal.