The Texas Rangers had some sad news to share on Tuesday: their $185 million ace, Jacob deGrom, will need Tommy John surgery to repair ligament damage on his right elbow.
That’s crushing news not only for Rangers fans, but for everyone who likes baseball.
deGrom is baseball: when healthy, there is no one like him in this game.
No one.
He won consecutive Cy Young awards in 2018 and 2019 and had a 1.08 ERA (!) in 2021.
He was consistently among the league leaders in ERA and owns an impressive 2.53 career mark.
Unfortunately, he will have to undergo the ligament-replacement surgery for the second time in his career.
Tommy John surgery means he won’t be able to help the Rangers on the mound until 2025.
If you thought professional athletes don’t care enough or are only in it for the money, take a look at this clip of a visibly heartbroken deGrom discussing his injury and the upcoming surgery.
Jacob deGrom, healthy and on the mound, was the most impressive thing I’ve ever witnessed in a decade covering this sport. This is tough to watch.
Wishing Jake nothing but the best. pic.twitter.com/QoFhL5I35j
— Steve Gelbs (@SteveGelbs) June 6, 2023
He is clearly struggling to hold back tears.
He knows he is looking at a long-term absence, but he also has a bulldog mentality and knows what it’s like to come back from a long ailment.
He was very good for the Rangers in 30.1 frames this season, with a 2.67 ERA, a 1.57 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), and 45 strikeouts.
He will now miss the remainder of the 2023 campaign and, in all likelihood, 2024 too.
If we know something about deGrom, it’s that he is patient, determined, and mentally strong, so there is no reason why he can’t return in top form in 2025.
NEXT: The Rangers Have Received 2 Notable Bad Pitching Breaks
