Jacob deGrom’s small role in helping Rangers’ World Series run: ‘Willing to help’

PHOENIX — After undergoing Tommy John surgery in June, Jacob deGrom received the message from Rangers brass that he was still wanted for this season.

It would have been easy for the former Mets ace and two-time Cy Young award winner to disappear to his home in central Florida, but after receiving a five-year contract worth $185 million from the Rangers last offseason, deGrom felt a sense of obligation to his new team.

DeGrom spent the first two months with his arm in a brace and limited himself to Rangers home games.

And just to ensure he was removed from potential harm, he sat in the bullpen — where he didn’t have to worry that an excited teammate might try to high-five him as part of a dugout celebration.

Since early September deGrom has been full time with the team, traveling and present in the dugout.

He has enjoyed the ride as a spectator and mentor for a Rangers team that began Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday within one victory of the franchise’s first world championship.

“I want to pitch, but it’s not about me — it’s about what these guys are doing,” deGrom said. “I was talking to [Andrew] Heaney a little bit during his outing [Tuesday] and if anybody has got anything for me I am willing to help. Just be here and support this group.”

DeGrom, 35, is optimistic he will pitch next season.

Though the rehab time is often longer for a pitcher who (the right-hander also had the procedure after he was drafted by the Mets in 2010), deGrom said he was told the long separation between the two surgeries could mean he will follow a normal schedule (general time frame is 12-14 months) in returning.

“We might be able to be a little more aggressive,” deGrom said, noting that he hopes to begin throwing in February.

DeGrom said the recent birth of his son Nolan (he also has an older son, Jaxon, and daughter, Aniston) has fueled his desire to pitch as long as possible so his children will have memories of his pitching career.

This season he started only six games and went 2-0 with a 2.67 ERA.

As much as deGrom was wowed by the Rangers’ contract offer last winter — the Mets had spoken to him about a three-year deal in the $110 million range — the organization’s commitment to winning stood out.

“You go out and get Corey [Seager] and Marcus [Semien] and they said the goal was to get pitching,” deGrom said. “They went and got me and continued to add, which was huge because we definitely needed pitching. I went down and these guys stepped in huge.”

His former team, the Mets, scuffled all season, leading deGrom to a reunion with Max Scherzer, who was acquired by Texas at the trade deadline.

But deGrom said he didn’t keep tabs on what was happening with the Mets, who fired manager Buck Showalter the final weekend of the season.

“I didn’t even look into that,” deGrom said. “I didn’t know if [Showalter] walked away or got fired.”

DeGrom said he’s enjoyed a pleasant working relationship with manager Bruce Bochy, who was on the brink of winning a fourth World Series title.

Bochy guided the Giants to championships in 2010, ’12 and ’14.

“We went through a tough stretch in late August and early September and ended up righting the ship and [Bochy] stayed the same throughout that,” deGrom said. “You feel his confidence and his trust in the players and the guys found their way out of that and what they are doing this postseason, so it’s been fun to be a part of.”