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After missing a bullpen session on Monday due to groin soreness, Jacob deGrom returned to the mound this afternoon with smooth results. The 27-year-old elaborated on his health status.
"I slipped running the other day," deGrom said. "I don’t know if that did it or not. So I don’t know if it was that specifically or something else. But it was just a little sore. I went in there and got it iced, and then they decided it was best to just take it easy."
The Mets' coaching staff didn't appear to be waiting with bated breath on deGrom's status; every indication from deGrom and manager Terry Collins was that the team took a safety-first approach in skipping Monday's bullpen session.
"That’s why we brought them in early, for something like this," Collins said after deGrom's missed bullpen session Monday. "Let’s get it taken care of early. Let’s ease them into shape. His bullpen the other day was lights out, so we know his arm is fine."
Between regular season and playoff baseball, deGrom tossed a combined 216 innings in 2015. Given how heavily the team will be relying on him this season, it's unlikely deGrom will play through injuries of any degree this spring.