Jacob deGrom opens up post elbow surgery: ‘Hardest part is behind me’

Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom is looking toward the future with more optimism now that his season-ending surgery is over.

The former Mets’ ace underwent surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm and will miss the rest of this season and most of next year. 

However, there was an upbeat tone when he met with reporters on Sunday at Globe Life Field for the first time since the procedure. 

“The hardest part is behind me,” deGrom said, according to MLB.com. “That’s what I was dreading, going in and getting it done. Now it’s over with, and I look forward to doing all the rehab stuff to get back out there. … Nobody wants to go under and get surgery. That’s the last thing you want to do. We want to be out there playing. That’s when the reality sets in. Now that that’s over with, like I said, it’s all trying to get back out there. So we set out a plan of what to do each day, and that makes it a lot easier.”

deGrom was excited to have a plan in front of him for his return to the mound, though that won’t come until the end of the summer in 2024. 

He isn’t expected to pitch for the Rangers until August of 2024, which would be roughly 14 months after undergoing the season-ending procedure. 

deGrom underwent surgery on June 12 at TMI Sports Medicine in Arlington, however, the Rangers never specified if it was Tommy John Surgery or an internal brace. 

Recovery time for Tommy John Surgery is typically 12 to 14 months, the Associated Press reported. 

deGrom, who will turn 35 on Monday, signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers in December and made six starts before the injury got the better of him. 

Texas had won all six games that he had been on the mound for them and deGrom had 45 strikeouts in 30.1 innings pitched. 

deGrom had pitched nine seasons in Queens, the final two of which were riddled with injury issues, before leaving for the Lone Star State this offseason. 

He had dealt with a similar issue in 2010, not too long after the Mets had drafted 272nd overall in the MLB draft. 

“I know what it takes to come back,” deGrom said. “It takes a lot of hard work and sticking with the program, not trying to do too much. That’s where it became tricky my first time. I felt good and really wanted to keep going.”

deGrom has been able to watch the past few games with his Rangers teammates in the bullpen in order to keep him out of harm’s way while he recovers. 

He told reporters that the club didn’t want him in the dugout in case he accidentally got run into by someone. 

“I was hanging out with the bullpen guys, you know. It’s just nice being around,” deGrom said. “Being able to come in here and be around the guys definitely makes it easier. You’re not just sitting by yourself, it still feels like you’re somewhat part of the team.”

The Rangers had gone into Sunday’s game with the Toronto Blue Jays with a four-game hold of the AL West and at 43-27, Texas had been one of the best teams in the American League.