Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom is not looking to maximize his velocity during the upcoming season. deGrom spent the majority of the 2024 campaign sidelined after undergoing his second Tommy John surgery in 2023.

DeGrom signed with the Rangers back in December 2022, but remains the franchise’s biggest mystery heading into the 2025 season.

In some ways, deGrom is the starting Billy Wagner, who was elected in January in his final year on the ballot. Wagner threw just 903 innings, the fewest of any pitcher elected by the writers. But those who voted for him (full transparency: I didn’t) favored dominance over quantity.

Jacob deGrom is healthy. The post Despite Jacob deGrom’s Healthy Return Rangers Skipper Makes a Surprising Opening Day Decision appeared first on EssentiallySports.