DeGrom plans to dial back his velocity this season in an effort to stay healthy, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom's average fastball velocity was 96 mph during his best season in 2018, but it climbed each of the three years after that, peaking at 99.2 mph in 2021. Persistent arm trouble accompanied the added velocity, and deGrom hopes pumping the brakes a bit can help keep him on the mound. He averaged 97.3 mph during his three starts last season with the Rangers and sat at 97 mph in his first spring training outing. While the Rangers don't have a strict innings limit with deGrom in 2025, they will manage his workload, which will include starting him at the back end of the rotation when the season begins.

DeGrom threw two scoreless innings against the Royals in Saturday's Cactus League game, striking out three batters.

EDGE Analysis

Making his first appearance of the spring, deGrom threw 31 pitches and didn't allow a baserunner. He struck out both Kyle Isbel and Bobby Witt to open the contest and finished his day off with a strikeout of Tyler Gentry. DeGrom's fastball touched 98 mph, and his slider and curveball looked sharp. The Rangers are going to slowly ramp things up with deGrom, and he's scheduled to again take the mound Thursday against the Giants. He's likely looking at 40-45 pitches in his next start, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. The oft-injured right-hander is expected to open the regular season at the back end of Texas' rotation.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Monday that deGrom will begin the season at "the back end" of the rotation, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

He's expected to make his first regular season start either on Mar. 30 versus the Cubs or Mar. 31 against the Reds. DeGrom is considered healthy, but the Rangers are simply allowing the two-time Cy Young winner ample time to build up after he missed most of the last two seasons while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. The 36-year-old will make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Rockies and will be built up to five innings by his final spring outing.

DeGrom threw live batting practice Saturday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports. "He looked good," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He looked like Jacob; the stuff, everything. He felt good. I think he came out of it fine."

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom threw 25 pitches (14 strikes) in his first live BP session of spring. One person on hand estimated he was throwing at about 80-to-90 percent. The 36-year-old deGrom is looking for his first full healthy season since 2020; he's made just 35 starts over the last four seasons. Despite what has been a deliberate pace in deGrom's ramp-up, Bochy expects the pitcher to be ready when the regular season begins. He'll make his first spring start this coming Friday.

DeGrom will make his first Cactus League start next Friday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom is set to throw his first round of live batting practice Saturday in preparation for his first spring start, after spending the past few weeks throwing bullpen sessions. The veteran right-hander will have slightly less than three weeks after his first spring appearance to ramp up for Opening Day. Given he missed most of the last two seasons, it seems likely he begins the season under some workload restrictions.

DeGrom will throw the first of what will likely be a few live batting practice sessions this weekend before appearing in a Cactus League game, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

McFarland estimates that it lines deGrom up to make his Cactus League debut in the second week of March. It's a quick turnaround between then and Opening Day, but the Rangers are understandably slow-playing deGrom this spring after he missed most of the last two seasons following a second Tommy John surgery. The two-time Cy Young winner might have a relatively limited workload early on in the season.

DeGrom threw a bullpen session Saturday, his first since the start of training camp, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom entered camp healthy after dealing with a second Tommy John elbow surgery that wiped out much of 2023 and 2024. The right-hander made three starts last September and recorded a 1.69 ERA over 10.2 innings. A healthy deGrom is key for the Rangers, who have won seven of the pitcher's nine starts over the last two seasons.

DeGrom came away with a no-decision in Friday's 5-2 win over the Angels, allowing one run on four hits over four innings. He struck out five without walking a batter.

EDGE Analysis

The 36-year-old right-hander was sharp in his final start of 2024, topping out at 98.7 mph with his fastball and firing 39 of 53 pitches for strikes. A cautious recovery from Tommy John surgery cost deGrom most of the season, but in three September outings he delivered a 1.69 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 14:1 K:BB over 10.2 innings, suggesting he still has plenty left in the tank. He still has three years and $115 million left on his contract, plus a $20 million club option for 2028, so if he's healthy deGrom should play a big role in the Rangers' rotation plans for next season.

DeGrom did not factor into the decision in Friday's 8-2 loss against Seattle, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over three innings. He struck out five.

EDGE Analysis

The two-time Cy Young winner fired 58 pitches as he continues working his way back from an elbow injury that sidelined him through Sept. 13. DeGrom looked terrific once again, as he averaged 97.6 mph on his fastball and generated nine whiffs in total. The only blemish on his evening came via a Josh Rojas solo shot in the third inning, the first run deGrom has allowed over 6.2 total innings this season. The Texas right-hander is currently scheduled to make his last start, which should once again have a workload restriction, on the road against the Angels next week.

DeGrom (elbow) allowed four hits and struck out four without walking a batter over 3.2 scoreless innings in a no-decision versus the Mariners on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

DeGrom stretched out to 61 pitches (41 strikes) in a sharp outing for his first major-league action since April of 2023. He'll likely remain on a workload limit to finish out the campaign after throwing no more than four innings in any of his four rehab starts. DeGrom is tentatively projected to make his next start at home versus the Blue Jays.