ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers’ most highly touted pitcher checked off another box on Friday before the second half of the regular season officially began.
Right-handed pitcher Jacob deGrom threw 35 pitches off a mound and worked in five or six sliders, according to manager Bruce Bochy. It was the third time that deGrom — who is now more than 13 months removed from elbow surgery — has thrown off the mound, and the first time that he’s included pitches with spin.
“All went well,” Bochy said. “He felt great, located the ball very well. Good outing for him.”
It’s another significant step for deGrom, whose next key checkpoint would be a live bullpen session against hitters before he can begin any kind of rehab assignment. The two-time Cy Young Award winner threw from a mound for the first time since his surgery on June 17 and, when the club was in Anaheim, Calif., two weeks ago, worked changeups into his repertoire.
The 36-year-old showed in six starts last season (in which he yielded a 2.67 ERA) that, when healthy, he is still among baseball’s best arms. His return will boost a Rangers rotation that’s been steady this season despite a number of injuries. The same goes for three other starters who are in the midst of various rehab points.
Tyler Mahle, Dane Dunning and Cody Bradford are each expected to pitch rehab assignments this weekend. Bradford — a left-handed pitcher who had a 1.40 ERA in three starts this season before a rib fracture derailed his year — was set to make his first rehab start on Friday night with the Rangers’ Arizona Complex League club. The 26-year-old began the season in the starting rotation but is expected to return to Texas in a relief role.
Mahle has started three minor league rehab games this season and is now 14 months removed from Tommy John surgery. He is expected to start his fourth on Saturday for Triple-A Round Rock. The 29-year-old right-hander has yet to allow a run in 6⅔ rehab innings with Round Rock, Double-A Frisco and the Arizona Complex League.
Dunning, who landed on the injured list July 5 with right shoulder soreness, threw 19 pitches in two innings for Frisco on Sunday and will follow Mahle in Round Rock on Saturday. The 29-year-old right-hander said that his recent injury was similar to the one that landed him on the IL in May, though this time around he and the club have uncovered a better solution. He has a 4.71 ERA in 65 innings this season and shifted into the bullpen after Max Scherzer returned from the IL in June.
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