Radio hosts blast Mets ace Jacob deGrom after latest setback

The New York Mets hoped ace Jacob deGrom was merely one step away in his recovery from a stress reaction in the scapula of his pitching shoulder from making his 2022 MLB season debut. The two-time National League Cy Young Award winner completed several successful rehab starts and was on track to throw a simulated game on Tuesday, the same day as the MLB All-Star Game. 

As noted by an ESPN piece, however, deGrom's latest throwing session was pushed back to at least Thursday "out of an abundance of caution" after he reported muscle soreness in his right shoulder. Fans still haven't seen deGrom pitch in a regular-season MLB contest since July 7, 2021, as lingering elbow issues cost him the second half of the previous campaign before his latest shoulder problem popped up this past spring.

It appears two local radio hosts have heard enough excuses from the deGrom camp amid rumors that the 34-year-old could opt out of his contract at the end of the season to potentially sign with the division-rival Atlanta Braves. 

Per Ryan Chichester of Audacy, WFAN personality Al Dukes commented on Wednesday morning that deGrom should "get lost" after his latest setback. Meanwhile, host Gregg Giannotti admitted he was also frustrated after hearing Tuesday's update. 

"I’m getting to that point now," Giannotti said about Dukes' take. "After watching him in and out last year, all that time, leaving games and MRIs and nothing popping up…not 'get lost,' but 'get pitching' for once. How about that? He’s been lost already!"

It's now anybody's guess as to when deGrom will make his first start of the MLB season. He may require another rehab appearance, assuming he throws live batting practice on Thursday, as scheduled.