PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jacob deGrom threw a 32-pitch bullpen session Monday before the Texas Rangers played the Pittsburgh Pirates as the right-hander continues his recovery from elbow inflammation.
“It went really, really well,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “He said he feels great and didn’t feel anything at all there.”
DeGrom threw all fastballs. He will add breaking balls to the mix when he throws his next bullpen on Friday, when the Rangers play at Baltimore.
Bochy said no timetable has been established for deGrom’s return, and that the 34-year-old could possibly be added to the active roster without a minor league rehab assignment.
DeGrom has been on the 15-day injured list since April 29. That was a day after he departed early for the second time in his last three starts, and an MRI showed some inflammation.
Texas has won all six games started by deGrom (2-0), but he has been limited to 30 1/3 innings. He has a 2.67 ERA with 45 strikeouts and four walks.
DeGrom played his first nine big league seasons with the New York Mets. He was limited to 156 1/3 innings over 26 starts the past two years because of injuries before signing his $185 million, five-year deal in free agency in December.
The Rangers, who lead the American League West Division with a 29-18 record (by one game over the Houston Astros), were to play at Pittsburgh again on Tuesday night, and then again Wednesday morning at 11:30 a.m. Texas is off Thursday, then visits Baltimore on Friday.
