Yu Darvish will start the season on the disabled list when the Rangers open things up on April 4 against the Seattle Mariners, but even though he's a bit behind his fellow starting pitchers, Darvish is still pleased with his velocity as he's rehabbing from Tommy John surgery almost exactly a year ago.
Darvish, who's had two throwing sessions from a half mound in which he threw 17 and 20 pitches, respectively, still has a ways to go, but he's happy with what he's seen so far.
New Rangers pitching coach Doug Brocail spoke to the Star-Telegram this week about his co-ace pitcher's progress and said he's been pleased and amazed so far.
“On a few of them he anticipated because he knew he was throwing harder and he wanted to see what the pitch was doing,” Brocail said. “I told him to quit cheating because I did the same thing when I came back from Tommy John. He wants to see what’s happening because he knows by hearing and he knows by feel that he was throwing hard.”
Brocail went on to say Darvish's rhythmic delivery will aid him in coming back, probably sooner rather than later within his projected timeline of mid- to late-May to early-June.
“His delivery allows him so much more than other guy’s deliveries do because it’s the exact same every pitch,” he said. “As a coach, that’s my biggest concern, is he going to be out of whack? No, Yu Darvish is not out of whack so it’s obviously going to come quicker … with a timetable.”
