New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom hasn't begun throwing following a setback in his recovery from a forearm injury that kept him out of the All-Star Game, but there are signs of improvement.
One of the most concerning parts for deGrom has been the inability to detect exactly what is wrong.
"I don't like it," deGrom said, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post. "I want to be pitching, that is one of the most frustrating things. I feel like I was having the best year of my career and then these little bumps and setbacks and now this.
"It's definitely frustrating, a little bit concerning, but how it feels this past week I think is a plus. I haven't thrown, but moving it around feels fine, so we'll see what it says when we look at it again."
A third NL Cy Young award in four years seemed inevitable after deGrom authored a 7-2 record with a microscopic 1.08 ERA and 0.55 WHIP over 15 starts. However, that appears increasingly unlikely as the injuries continue to pile up and he misses more time.
Still, the 33-year-old's primary goal is to return for a playoff push instead of adding extra hardware to his own trophy case.
"The goal is to win a World Series and to be a part of that - the personal stuff is secondary," deGrom said. "But I do miss being out there helping our team, and it stinks sitting on the sideline and not being able to compete."
DeGrom also noted that his most recent setback occurred more in the elbow area and not the forearm.
In addition to the forearm and elbow, deGrom has missed time this season due to side, flexor, and shoulder issues.
