New York Mets injured starting pitcher Jacob deGrom is nearing his return. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Mets 'discussing the possibility' of Jacob deGrom starting rehab on Sunday

New York Mets fans may see some early July 4th fireworks this weekend.

deGrom — who hasn't taken the mound on a major league diamond since July 2021 — threw a 27-pitch live bullpen session on Wednesday. It was the two-time NL Cy Young award winner's third live bullpen session since being placed on the injured list with a shoulder ailment in April.

Thought by many to be the most dominant starting pitcher in the senior circuit over the past four or five years — if not in all of baseball — deGrom's 2022 injury concerns started in early April when he was scratched from a spring training start due to the bothersome shoulder. The righty went for an MRI later that month and it showed "considerable healing."

Following his back-to-back Cy Young campaigns in 2018 and 2019, the 34-year-old deGrom made 12 starts during the 2020 pandemic-shortened season. He was limited to 15 starts in 2021 before he was shut down for the year due to an elbow injury.

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