DALLAS — Texas Rangers spring training started with the club getting some good news: Jacob deGrom is throwing a baseball, and his first day back "went great."
General Manager Chris Young confirmed to reporters in Surprise, Ariz., that deGrom, the Rangers' prized ace pitcher who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, started throwing Monday and was set to throw again Wednesday.
"He started playing catch," Young said. "He started his normal catch progression. It's part of the standard rehab for Tommy John."
Young said deGrom's return date is still aimed for sometime around August, though he noted that timetable isn't set in stone. deGrom's first day back in action since Tommy John surgery last summer was "a great day," Young said.
"Jacob said he felt great," Young said. "The training staff said he looked great. And medically, everything has been on track and checking out, so we're very excited. It's a big step for him. It's a long way to go, but picking up a baseball and playing catch for the first time is significant. And it's a major hurdle that we've cleared, and now many more to come, but we're on the right path here."
deGrom, who has battled several injuries in recent seasons, threw 30.1 innings for the Rangers last year before getting hurt. He had a 2.67 ERA with 45 strikeouts in six games started.
Young also had a couple updates on the Rangers' two other injured pitchers, Max Scherzer and newly-signed Tyler Mahle.
Mahle, who is also recovering from Tommy John surgery last year, started throwing about six weeks ago, Young said. His target date to return is still sometime in July. On Scherzer, who is recovering from a back injury, Young didn't have an update on any activities the right-hander is doing, but he said his return is still set for sometime in June.