From DeLand, Florida where Jacob deGrom has been throwing for several weeks in his road to recovery from last season’s ulnar nerve surgery in his pitching elbow, the all-star righty said that he hopes 2017 will be the year where all five Mets starters stay healthy.
“We’re all rooting for each other. We’re definitely excited. Hopefully this is the year that happens,” deGrom said.
Degrom, 28, was shut down and subsequently had surgery in September after feeling numbness in his fingers and experiencing elbow pain, but expects to be ready for Spring Training.
“The plan is to be off the mound a couple of times before spring, then I think just a nice and easy introduction to a slope and then be ready to go when spring training is here,’’ deGrom said.
The plan is that 2017 is finally the year in which the Mets have their top five starters in tip top shape and altogether in the rotation at once.
In addition to deGrom, Steven Matz had a “massive” bone spur in his elbow removed this offseason, Matt Harvey is coming back from shoulder surgery, Zack Wheeler has missed the last two seasons after having Tommy John surgery and Noah Syndergaard was also pitching with a bone spur in 2016.
“Harvey going down, Wheeler trying to recover from Tommy John. It’s like, man, can we catch a break?” DeGrom said. “I think everybody wants to stay healthy but we haven’t been able to. Hopefully this is the year that we do.”
DeGrom and the Mets recently agreed to terms on a one-year deal worth $4.05 million for the 2017 season.
In his three-year career, deGrom has a 30-22 record, with a 2.74 ERA and 9.2 K/9 as well as a 2.88 FIP.
