The Texas Rangers moved ace Jacob deGrom to the 60-day injured list on Monday due to elbow inflammation that has sidelined him since April 29.
DeGrom was previously on the 15-day injured list and the move to the 60-day list is retroactive. The earliest he can return to the Texas roster now is June 28.
General manager Chris Young told the Dallas Morning News that deGrom’s symptoms had “come and gone” while refusing to confirm or deny that deGrom had suffered a setback in his recovery. The team will know more on Tuesday after deGrom had a second MRI on the injured elbow.
“We want to proceed with caution and do what’s right for him,” Young told The News. “That’s the biggest factor in this move. We want to make sure the inflammation is gone.
“THE [symptoms] have come and gone. He had good days and bad days. It was not linear.
DeGrom, a two-time Cy Young winner with the New York Mets, joined the Rangers last offseason on a five-year, $185 million deal. The future 35-year-old made six starts for Texas before landing on the injured list in April. In 30 1/3 innings, he posted a 2.67 ERA and .758 WHIP with 45 strikeouts and four walks.
DeGrom came to Rangers with a history of injury issues, including elbow hyperextension and elbow pain during two separate injury spells. None of those injuries sidelined him for an extended period of time.
In this case, Young expressed confidence that deGrom will recover.
“Jacob will pitch for us, I’m confident of that,” Young said. “I just don’t know the timing. I know the player, the work ethic and the desire. I think the player knows his body better and knows what his signals are. When there are good days, we move on to the next step.
“I think it’s the organization’s responsibility to play it safe and get it right. I don’t know if there’s anything wrong, but I would hate to push things and make things worse. by doing something irresponsible.
Despite deGrom’s injury, the Rangers posted the second-best record in baseball, at 38-20. They hold a 3.5 game lead over the Houston Astros in the AL West.