Why healthy Jacob deGrom should make Rangers AL West contenders

Reports of ace Jacob DeGrom looking like the star of old might make his new team the favorite to surprise in 2023.

DeGrom, who signed a five-year, $185 million free-agent deal with Texas in the offseason, made his first start of spring training Sunday. According to the Dallas Morning News, he hit between 97-100 mph on the radar gun. The right-hander had 28 strikes in 34 pitches and pitched three scoreless innings.

His teammates said he could have been better.

“And I think he would tell you it was not his best outing.” catcher Mitch Garver told the Dallas Morning News.

That is a scary thought for the rest of the American League.

DeGrom became a star with the New York Mets. He was a Cy Young candidate every year, winning the award in 2018 and 2019, but injuries have slowed him in recent years. He hasn’t made 30 starts since 2019 and has pitched only 156.1 innings over the past two years.

“You just saw what one of the best pitchers in the game looks like,” first-year Rangers manager Bruce Bochy told the News after DeGrom’s start. “He pounds the strike zone. He doesn’t hold back. I enjoy watching it. He’s an elite pitcher.”