Rangers Jacob deGrom can be throwing 100 mph lasers and making hitters look foolish, but one thing he can’t seem to shake? His reputation for being injury-prone. And apparently, that stigma follows him even when he’s not on the mound.
During the Boston Red Sox’s spring training broadcast on Sunday, analysts Tom Caron and Lou Merloni started looking ahead to the team’s season-opening series against the Texas Rangers. That’s when Merloni, never one to hold back, decided to take a shot at deGrom—despite the fact that the Rangers ace wasn’t even playing.
“A lot of talent on that team, everybody just sort of underperformed,” Merloni said, referring to Texas’ disappointing 2024 campaign. Then came the punchline. “The problem is you get them on that opening series while deGrom is healthy. You want to play them in August when he’s on the IL (injury list).” Ouch.
Sure, it was a joke, but let’s be real—It’s no secret that deGrom has struggled to stay on the mound. Since signing his massive five-year contract before the 2023 season, the former Mets ace has started just nine games for Texas Rangers, tossing 41 innings. His 2024 season was almost a total loss—he underwent his second Tommy John surgery and didn’t return until September, making three starts to close out the year. And yet, when he does pitch, he’s still Jacob deGrom.
Red Sox broadcast brutally roasts Jacob deGrom — during game he had nothing to do with https://t.co/Zd7n8JsJAN pic.twitter.com/x40tO91BFv
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) March 4, 2025
Even in his brief return at the end of 2024, he posted a 1.69 ERA with 14 strikeouts over 10 2/3 innings. His dominance isn’t up for debate—his ability to stay on the field is. The Rangers, well aware of this, are easing him back in. Manager Bruce Bochy told The New York Post’s Joel Sherman that Texas plans to use deGrom as their fifth starter to give him extra rest. That means he’ll skip the opening series against Boston and instead make his season debut on March 31 against the Reds in Cincinnati. “He’s doing great. He feels good,” Bochy said, staying optimistic.
For the Rangers, getting anything close to a full season from deGrom would be a game-changer. But the reality is, jokes like Merloni’s will keep coming until the 35-year-old proves he can stay healthy for more than just a handful of starts.
Rangers are silencing the critics, one start at a time
Jacob deGrom doesn’t need to respond to critics with words—his pitching does that for him. When healthy, he’s a generational talent, the kind of ace who can single-handedly shift a team’s fortunes. But with every injury-shortened season, the skepticism around him has only grown louder. The only way to quiet the doubters is by doing something he hasn’t done in years: take the ball every fifth day and stay on the mound for an extended stretch. Until that happens, jokes like Lou Merloni will keep coming, and the narrative surrounding him won’t change.
The Rangers aren’t aiming for 200 innings; they would probably be satisfied with 120 at this stage in the season’s preparation. The effective management of workload could play a role in maintaining deGroms’ health and performance over the course of the season if Texas pushes for another playoff spot. If he can string together consistent starts, avoid major setbacks, and be available when it matters most, the conversation shifts from “Can he stay healthy?” to “How dangerous does this make the Rangers?” One start at a time, deGrom has a chance to rewrite the story that has followed him for years.
Fair or not, deGrom isn’t just battling hitters—he’s battling a narrative. And the only way to silence it is by doing something he hasn’t done in years: stay on the mound. Do you think he can finally put the injuries behind him and prove he’s more than just a “what if” pitcher? Let us know below.
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