Jacob deGrom skips Monday bullpen due to groin soreness

Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom skipped drills and his bullpen session yesterday due to some tightness in the left groin area. The 27-year-old right-hander said he remembered slipping during weekend drills, but wasn't sure whether that was the cause of the soreness. Instead of his scheduled bullpen session, deGrom iced the sore area and threw long toss Monday morning, without incident.

Both deGrom and the Mets downplayed the seriousness of the injury, saying that the rest was just an extra precaution. While deGrom suggested he could return to the the mound as early as today, manager Terry Collins was more cautious. Collins's comments revealed the Mets' plans to take a proactive approach in handling all their young star pitchers, to "ease them into shape" and make sure minor injuries don't develop into something more. He also stressed that deGrom's previous bullpen was "lights out, so we know his arm is fine."

deGrom was the National League's 2014 Rookie of the Year, and went 14-8 with a 2.54 ERA in 2015.