Jacob deGrom has taken the first step towards the launch potential again this season.
For the first time in nearly a month, deGrom played catch on Wednesday at Citi Field after the MRI he underwent early in the day showed enough improvements to his elbow to resume the launch.
Manager Luis Rojas said he was unaware of the details of the MRI (whether deGrom’s elbow swelling had cleared completely or had simply been reduced enough to get the green light), but described it as “great news for We”.
“We’ll see where we go from here,” Rojas said.
The Mets ace had been locked up for four weeks after previous MRIs showed inflammation in his elbow. It last launched on July 7 and is still facing considerable progression to recover.
But Wednesday gave hope that he could still return before the Mets season ended.
Even if he is able to return, it remains to be seen if deGrom will participate in meaningful games, as the Mets entered Wednesday 6 1/2 games behind the Braves to secure first place in the Northeast League.
The Mets had 37 games left to play on Wednesday.
DeGrom’s last MRI before Wednesday, two weeks ago, showed the inflammation had subsided, but not enough to give it the green light to start a launch program. Acting general manager Zack Scott said Tuesday that the Mets had to see a “continuous improvement” in Wednesday’s MRI in order to be able to clear deGrom.
Before going to the list of ten-day injuries with tension in his forearm on July 15: he was recently transferred to the 60-day IL, meaning he will not return before September 13 and will probably not return immediately once eligible. in full historical season.
In 15 starts, he had posted an ERA of 1.08 with 146 attacks in 92 innings.