Injured Rangers ace could be X-factor if he can get healthy again

Jacob deGrom has been one of the best pitchers in baseball when he has been able to stay on the mound.

Unfortunately, that has been far too infrequent for the Rangers' starter. deGrom has battled a litany of injuries since the start of the 2021 season, culminating in Tommy John surgery on June 6. He started playing catch in the middle of February, hoping to return to the Rangers sometime in August.

deGrom has continued to dominate despite those injuries. He has made 32 appearances since the start of 2021, essentially a full season's worth of outings in three years. He has posted an impressive 2.03 ERA and a 0.654 WHiP over his 186.2 innings, striking out 293 batters with just 23 walks. 

Had deGrom performed at that level over a full season, he would have likely won both the Cy Young and MVP awards. He also would have set several records; his WHiP and 12.7 K/BB rate would have been top marks for any pitcher to qualify for an ERA title. deGrom's 1.59 FIP would have been the lowest since Pedro Martinez in 1999. 

If deGrom can return to the Rangers in August as he hopes, he may have more of an impact than any possible trade deadline acquisition. He would be a bona fide ace on a team with aspirations of repeating as World Series champions. The timeline for his return would also mean that he is fully stretched out for the postseason, making him one of the bigger potential X-factors down the stretch.

His performance in that period is also a reminder of what could have been. deGrom will be 36 years old when he returns and is facing the final years of his career. He has already had an impressive career, making four All-Star Games, winning a pair of NL Cy Young awards and being named the 2014 NL Rookie of the Year. Yet, it is a career that also feels incomplete. deGrom's injuries have hurt his overall counting stats and may keep him from Cooperstown when he eventually retires. 

deGrom will be a difference-maker for the Rangers when he returns for the stretch run. That return will be another reminder of what could have been if he stayed healthy.