Right-hander Jacob deGrom took an important early step toward the 2026 season this week, making his first Spring Training start for the Texas Rangers in an exhibition matchup against Team Brazil ahead of the World Baseball Classic.

The outing marked the beginning of a gradual ramp-up for the Rangers’ ace as the club looks to manage his workload over the course of the year.

According to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com, deGrom allowed three hits in the appearance, including a home run by Lucas Ramirez, the son of former MLB star Manny Ramirez, while recording three strikeouts.

The start represented the first step in a carefully planned progression leading into the regular season.

Manager Skip Schumaker knows firsthand how dominant deGrom can be. Schumaker faced him briefly during his playing career and even enjoyed some success at the plate.

But what stands out more to him are the memories of game-planning against deGrom while serving as a coach.

“When I was first-base coach in San Diego, and we went to New York, our game plan was that if anybody got on, it was a first-pitch hit-and-run,” Schumaker said. “It didn't matter. That's just how dominant he was, and still is. It's just unbelievable how he’s still going.”

Texas intends to follow a familiar blueprint when it comes to building up its ace.

Schumaker explained that the organization hopes to have deGrom at full strength late in the season, when games carry the most weight in the standings.

“I think it's going to be a very similar approach to try to get the best out of him and for us,” Schumaker said. “[We want] to be strong to make a September push. Hopefully, there's meaningful games in September and we can use him, and he's built up by then to let it go.”

The strategy mirrors the approach taken last season.

After recovering from his second Tommy John surgery, deGrom gradually increased his workload in 2025 and ultimately delivered an impressive campaign, earning an All-Star selection while posting a 2.97 ERA across 172 2/3 innings.

DeGrom said conversations with the Rangers’ coaching staff and front office during the offseason reinforced that the same formula could work again.

The goal now is to stay healthy while building toward a full season.

“I tried to set personal goals,” deGrom said of last year. “I'd like to throw 200 innings again. So we'll just see. Last year, I was able to make 30 starts, and I felt like I could have kept going.”

“If we would have made the playoffs, I felt like I was ready to go,” he added. “So we'll build off that and just see how this year is going to go. Hopefully I run out there as many times as I can.”

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