Surprise Five: Thoughts from Rangers’ camp as first week comes to close

We’re a week into (Okay, technically five days) Rangers spring training and some story lines are beginning to take shape. Here’s a look at some, plus a tentative look at the Rangers’ first intrasquad game scheduled for Monday:

1. Brocail hearts Darvish — Yu Darvish’s natural talent continues to impress first-year pitching coach Doug Brocail, who gushes about the right-hander’s flawless mechanics after every bullpen session. Darvish will throw off a regular mound for the first time on Sunday or Monday after completing his third half-mound session Friday morning. The catcher will crouch in front of the plate to limit the stress on Darvish. Brocail sounds nothing but optimistic about Darvish’s progress.

2. First intrasquad Monday — The Rangers have scheduled their first intrasquad game for Monday morning. One team of pitchers includes Cole Hamels, Cesar Ramos, Jake Diekman, Keone Kela and Tom Wilhelmsen. The other team consists of Martin Perez, Shawn Tolleson, Sam Dyson and Sam Freeman. All the pitchers will throw one innings except for Ramos and Perez, who will each throw two.

3. Rangers expected starters — Right-hander Colby Lewis and left-hander Derek Holland are scheduled to start the first two spring games against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday and Thursday at Surprise Stadium.

4. Dreams of David — The triumphant return (or something like that) of David Murphy still remains a possibility. Although the Rangers signed outfielder and former University of Texas Longhorn Drew Stubbs to a minor league deal on Friday, general manager Jon Daniels would not discount or comment specifically on Murphy, who lives in DFW and attended Baylor. The club has been in talks this week with the former Rangers outfielder. Stubbs finished the 2015 season with Texas and played in the postseason.

5. Please cover your mouth — A bout of the flu has bounced around the Rangers’ spring complex since pitchers and catchers reported last week and it finally took down the first player. Right-hander Keone Kela stayed home Friday and could miss another day or two. Brocail said Kela may have to take it slow for a day or two once he returns.

This story was originally published February 26, 2016 at 7:18 PM with the headline "Surprise Five: Thoughts from Rangers’ camp as first week comes to close."