Darvish Dazzles Against Live Hitters

This is not breaking news, but Yu Darvish is good at throwing a baseball 60 feet, 6 inches while someone stands there trying to wail away at the ball with a piece of wood. He's good at being a pitcher.

The 2014 season didn't end the way Darvish, or anyone involved with the Rangers organization wanted it to, but Darvish is making the most of his fresh start in Surprise, Arizona, as Rangers spring training is underway.

On Wednesday, Darvish threw to live hitters for the first time since his final start of 2014, which came in August before he was shut down for the season with elbow inflammation that was later determined to be nothing of concern.

The results, unsurprisingly, were good.

"I thought he was very sharp — guys couldn't square up the ball," pitching coach Mike Maddux told reporters. "One thing about Yu, he doesn't overthrow. He was very consistent. Mission accomplished."

Darvish agreed, talking to reporters through a translator.

"I was able to do some things I'd worked on in the bullpen," Darvish said. "My command was very good and there was power on the ball, but the batters were pretty much just standing in the batter's box, so it was hard to judge."

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Darvish, who is one of baseball's few legitimate aces and a perennial Cy Young contender, posted a 10-7 record and a 3.06 ERA in the Rangers' disaster of a 2014 season.

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