The Texas Rangers’ chances of making the 2024 postseason are virtually gone. As of Monday, their record stands at 60-71, leaving them 12.5 games behind a wild card spot in the American League standings—an almost insurmountable deficit with only 31 games left in the season. Fangraphs currently gives them a meager 0.2 percent chance of reaching the playoffs, reflecting their low position in the standings. Despite this, Rangers fans might have a reason to stay engaged towards the end of the season as they look back on what has been a disappointing year.
On Sunday, during an appearance on MLB Network Radio, Rangers general manager Chris Young shared that veteran pitcher Jacob deGrom, who has been sidelined for the entire 2024 season due to Tommy John surgery, is nearing a return to the major leagues.
Young stated, “He’s not far from rejoining the major league team. We’ll see how the next outing goes [at Triple-A] and figure out a responsible plan for him to pitch through September, get acclimated to the majors again, and be ready for 2025,” as reported by Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
With just 31 games remaining, deGrom might have the opportunity to make up to five or six starts before the season ends, helping him regain his form after last pitching on April 28, 2023. This will also give the Rangers a glimpse of his remaining potential after a series of injuries over the past three seasons.
At 36 years old, deGrom faces challenges due to age and recurring injuries, which could impact his future prospects. However, his impressive history of performance on the mound means that his return will likely still attract attention, even from fans who have been disheartened by the season’s struggles.
With deGrom set to return in September, it will have been 16 months since he last played for the Rangers after signing a five-year, $185 million contract in December 2022. Despite his limited appearances so far, he performed well last season with a 2.67 ERA over six starts, suggesting that he remains capable of top-tier pitching.
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