Jacob deGrom has shoulder tightness, likely to miss start
Mets pitcher Jacob deGrom at spring training on March 13 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Jacob deGrom’s arm problems have returned.
After he missed the entire second half of last season due to a series of injuries, deGrom experienced tightness in the back of his right shoulder Thursday, manager Buck Showalter said, and probably will not make his scheduled start in an exhibition game against the Cardinals on Friday.
The Mets already have made deGrom an appointment to get an MRI on Friday in the event that he does not pitch, Showalter said.
“It’s not like we’re hiding anything, but we’re going to see how he is in the morning before we scratch him,” Showalter said. “He’s going to have to be pretty convincing to pitch him [Friday]. He’s going to be in here in the morning. We’re going to see how he feels.”
DeGrom had felt fine throughout this shortened spring training until the end of his long-toss session Thursday, according to Showalter. Then he visited the manager in his office to let him know about the apparently new discomfort.
That development came just a week before Opening Day, set for April 7 against the Nationals in Washington, D.C. Showalter wasn’t ready to say that deGrom’s Game One assignment — and availability — is in danger.
“Not yet. Let’s see what [Friday] brings,” Showalter said. “That’s why we purposely put all the pitchers on an extra day of rest before the season starts, so that if we have something we can move it around.”
DeGrom’s Friday agenda was in question throughout Thursday because of a chance of rain. Asked after the Mets’ contest against the Nationals about the plan for his ace, Showalter said they were undecided but left out mention of the new arm issue.
“We’re waiting to see the weather, see what we’re going to do,” Showalter said during his usual postgame news conference. “We’ll make an adjustment if something presents itself. We’re looking at two or three things, what our options are.”
Twenty minutes later, Showalter doubled back with reporters to disclose the shoulder tightness.
“I’d be surprised if he pitched [Friday],” Showalter said. “Rain or no rain.”
DeGrom has thrown only five innings across two Grapefruit League appearances, his first game action since July 7. That wound up being his 2021 finale because of forearm and elbow injuries that, upon his arrival at spring training this month, he deemed long since passed.
In his exhibition starts, deGrom’s fastball averaged about 97.5 mph, lower than last year (99.2 mph) and even lower than his usual spring training heat. But he indicated he was experimenting with throwing at less than full strength and repeatedly emphasized how strong and in-sync he felt.
If deGrom is unavailable to start the season, ripple effects would include Max Scherzer likely drawing the Opening Day start, meaning his Mets debut would come against his former team in its home city. He is scheduled to throw seven innings and/or 100 pitches in a scrimmage Saturday, his final outing of spring training.
Among the Mets’ depth rotation options are Tylor Megill and David Peterson, both of whom would be fully stretched out starting pitchers. Megill in particular has impressed team officials with a strong camp.
Tim Healey is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. Born on Long Island and raised in Connecticut, Tim has previously worked for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Boston Globe and MLB.com. He is also the author of “Hometown Hardball,” a book about minor league baseball in the northeast.
