Yu Darvish is set to come back sometime around late May or early June, but even back in Arizona during spring training, the Rangers' coaches and medical staff were hinting at the fact that Darvish is kind of making a mockery of his rehab timetable.
The Rangers have insisted they won't rush Darvish back, even if he shows he's ready sooner than the projection, and that's a wise move, but at what point do they just change expectations on Darvish, who's known as quite the physical freak?
On Tuesday, Darvish threw 50 pitches in a bullpen session, which was the most pitches he's thrown since his Tommy John surgery last March.
In the spring, pitching coach Doug Brocail had told reporters that once he hit the 50-55 pitch count regularly, he'd begin facing live hitters in his ramp up to get back to game action.
If he starts doing that, and doing it with some regularity, the next step would be a rehab assignment, which would last about a month or so barring setbacks.
He's still a ways away, but the time is coming, folks. Get excited.
