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Why Rangers’ Jacob deGrom feels he has ‘turned a corner’ after latest bullpen session

DeGrom threw a 25-pitch bullpen, rested a few minutes and then continued to play catch in the outfield for a while longer on Friday.

ARLINGTON – Three weeks since he left a game against the New York Yankees with the worrisome “forearm soreness,” Jacob deGrom was back on a mound Friday, throwing with a purpose.

DeGrom threw a 25-pitch bullpen, rested a few minutes and then continued to play catch in the outfield for a while longer. He met with head athletic trainer Matt Lucero and Bruce Bochy for an extended briefing afterward.

Most significantly, deGrom said he had “turned a corner” in his recovery from what was diagnosed as elbow inflammation. DeGrom only took about a week off from throwing, then started playing catch. He got on a mound for 15 pitches on Wednesday before upping things Friday. The next step: An “up and down,” in which he will throw an inning’s worth of pitches, rest, then throw another to simulate a game situation.

“Everything felt good,” deGrom said afterward. “We are heading in the right direction. I feel like I’ve turned a corner.”

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The Rangers haven’t yet discussed a rehab plan for DeGrom, who last pitched on April 28. Part of that is that he isn’t far enough along yet. But it’s also worth considering whether one is even necessary.

He did not take a significant time away from throwing. He’s a mechanical outlier with a picture-perfect repeatable delivery. And given his history of missing time with injuries, it might make sense to make sure that every inning he pitches this season is in a big league game.

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“I don’t think we got set back that far [with throwing],” deGrom said. “When a batter steps in the box it’s hard for me to tone it down.”

Over his last three starts, deGrom has allowed four hits, two walks and two runs (one earned) in 13.2 innings. He has, however, left two of them early, first with wrist soreness and then with the elbow inflammation.

Twitter: @Evan_P_Grant

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