PHILADELPHIA -- Right-hander Jacob deGrom's week-old son was discharged from a Florida hospital on Monday, and deGrom could return to the New York Mets' rotation as soon as next weekend at Atlanta, manager Terry Collins said.
DeGrom's son, Jaxon Anthony, has been dealing with an undisclosed medical issue since his birth last Monday night.
DeGrom has been with his family for the past week but has been commuting to the Mets' Florida complex to throw. He is due to pitch a simulated game on Tuesday. Collins said it has not yet been determined whether deGrom would slot into the rotation next weekend at Turner Field or wait until next week's homestand.
"He's going to throw his simulated game tomorrow, and then we'll take a look at where he's at," Collins said.
Collins added that the Mets would like to build up deGrom's stamina so that he is capable of pitching at least into the sixth inning upon returning.
DeGrom previously had been troubled with right lat tightness, but that issue appears to have passed.
Right-hander Logan Verrett is slated to take deGrom's turn on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies. Verrett tossed six scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins last week while filling in for deGrom.
"Every team looks for a guy like that -- when you need a start due to an injury or due to a sickness or anything else, they can step up and you have enough confidence that they'll get you deep into the game," Collins said. "It seems like every time we need him to step up, he does."
