There’s a new performance art exhibition happening out in the desert, and it’s not your typical show. No, this one’s headlined by none other than Jacob deGrom’s bullpens. After a couple of seasons filled with injury setbacks and rehab, deGrom made his highly anticipated return to form, and boy, did he deliver. For the first time as a Ranger, fully healthy and without any restrictions, he unleashed his first official bullpen of the spring. And if you happened to be around, you’d know that just 24 hours later, the buzz was still reverberating through the camp.
It all went down on a Saturday afternoon, with the spotlight shining bright on deGrom as he took the mound for the first time this spring with everyone watching. While he’d thrown a session earlier, before camp officially began, it was this outing that really had everyone talking. As the ball flew out of his hand, it was clear: deGrom was back.
Let’s break it down through the eyes of some of the key critics who were there:
Catcher Kyle Higashioka had an up-close look at the action, and even he was taken aback. “Honestly, it was pretty incredible. I think there’s probably only one other guy I’ve ever caught with that kind of command, and you might have heard of him: It was Mariano Rivera,” he said. “And deGrom was doing it probably 10 miles an hour harder.” That’s some serious praise, considering Rivera is a Hall of Famer, known for his pinpoint control and devastating cutter. But deGrom’s not just about velocity. "To have that kind of stuff and command at the same time, it’s just really unbelievable," Higashioka continued. “The first pitch he threw missed by like four inches and he said ‘terrible.’ And then I never had to move my glove again.” If that doesn’t show just how dialed in deGrom was, I don’t know what does. Precision and power, all in one package.
Meanwhile, Nathan Eovaldi, a rotation mate who watches all the bullpens, shared his excitement: “He was dotting everything. The first couple of pitches he was a little quick, and then he just was perfect. Like, I don’t even know how to describe it. It’s fun to watch.” There’s a magic in watching a pitcher who can seem effortless while throwing heat, and deGrom has that ability. “He just goes back to a nice slow and controlled motion, but with good tempo. It’s something we all kind of struggle to do. You go out there and try to create too much. But he’s just able to slow it down.” And that’s one of deGrom’s trademarks—he doesn’t rush the process. Despite being one of the first to start, deGrom was often the last to finish—not because he threw a ton of pitches, but because his slow, steady tempo requires that level of attention to detail. “There is just this intent with each pitch,” Eovaldi observed.
Even Manager Bruce Bochy, a seasoned veteran in the game, couldn’t help but admire the performance. “Well, he really looked healthy. Everything came out fine, the location was good. It was great to see him out there like that,” Bochy said. “I think everybody was excited to see him. I’m sure he was a little nervous to start. Even with veterans, you get a little nervous at the start. But he’s so smooth.” And there’s that word again—smooth. Bochy described deGrom’s delivery as effortless, and it’s something to behold. “It’s effortless, isn’t it? And to command it the way he does, it’s just a gift. That’s what I guess elite pitchers do, is have the stuff and the command. It’s like a whip with him. It comes through so easy. I’m still amazed at what some of these guys can do, and he’s one of them.”
What makes this all even more exciting is how different this spring has been for deGrom compared to previous ones. Just think back to 2023, when deGrom showed up to camp with some back stiffness. His spring was slow, and the talk around camp revolved almost entirely around his health. Fast forward to 2024, and while there was still some rehab involved, the difference is night and day. DeGrom had to ease into a throwing program last season after undergoing elbow surgery, and he didn’t even start throwing off a mound until June.
But this year? Things are looking completely different. After making three starts toward the end of last season—after 15 months of elbow ligament reconstruction rehab—deGrom was finally able to engage in a pretty aggressive throwing program during the offseason. “I’ve thrown eight bullpens off a mound before arriving in Arizona,” deGrom shared with a smile. That’s a big deal, especially when you consider the kinds of setbacks he’s had to overcome.
Still, perhaps the most interesting critic of all is the man himself—Jacob deGrom. Always his own harshest evaluator, he wasn’t ready to just give himself an A+ right away. “It was a really good bullpen,” he said modestly. “My arm path and location felt good. I’ve been working on getting my shoulders more level. It’s pretty close to where I want it. I just want to lock it in.” That’s deGrom for you—always looking for ways to fine-tune his already elite stuff.
It’s clear that everything is clicking for deGrom right now, and fans, teammates, and coaches alike are feeling the excitement. It’s been a while since we’ve seen the full, healthy version of deGrom on the mound, and what we’ve seen so far this spring has been nothing short of mesmerizing. His command, his velocity, his smooth motion—he’s got it all working in perfect harmony, and that’s exactly what you want from an ace like him.
In a way, watching deGrom work his magic is like seeing a master artist at work. Every pitch is deliberate, every movement precise, and every outcome a piece of a bigger, beautiful picture. If you haven’t had the chance to see deGrom’s bullpens this spring, it might be time to tune in. What he’s doing right now is nothing short of spectacular, and it could be the start of a new chapter for him with the Rangers—a chapter that fans will be talking about for years to come.
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