Jacob deGrom - Oakland Athletics v Texas Rangers
ARLINGTON, TEXAS - Jacob deGrom (#48) of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the fourth inning at Globe Life Field on April 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Four-time MLB All-Star Jacob deGrom is set to undergo his second career Tommy John surgery to repair a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament on his pitching elbow.

The two-time All-MLB First Team selection recently signed a five-year, $185 million contract with the Rangers this past offseason.

The deal includes a Tommy John surgery clause that now gives the Rangers a sixth-year team option worth between $20 million and $37 million, depending on awards votings and innings total. Such clauses are becoming more common in the sport.

The 34-year-old has only made six starts this season for the Rangers and has been unable to achieve more than 15 starts since he made 32 with the New York Mets in 2019.

Jacob deGrom To Undergo Second Tommy John Surgery

deGrom will undergo a second career Tommy John surgery. His elbow was repaired for the first time in October 2010, when he was a minor league prospect for the New York Mets, per CBS Sports.

Rehabilitation usually takes 12-15 months for pitchers, and they are expected to return to the same level of play after. Sometimes, they play even better after the surgery because their elbows are fully repaired from the wear and tear throughout their career.

However, a second Tommy John surgery used to be a death sentence in a pitcher's major league career, coming with a more extended rehab and more risk than the first. Nonetheless, the second surgery is not as risky now as it was a decade ago.