Darvish tracking for late-May return to Rangers

Yu Darvish is scheduled to throw live batting practice Wednesday and could be only two weeks away from beginning a rehab assignment that would serve as the final step in his comeback from Tommy John surgery.

The right-hander threw a 50-pitch bullpen session Saturday in Arlington, building upon a Tuesday session that pitching coach Doug Brocail is still marveling over. Brocail said that Darvish will throw three live BPs with three days of rest between each one.

That would put him on track to begin a rehab assignment April 25, almost certainly at a home game for Double A Frisco. It would be the first of six rehab starts, and Darvish would likely begin by throwing three innings.

He tentatively could return the week of May 23 at home against the Los Angeles Angels.

Brocail cautioned that Darvish’s schedule is subject to change depending on how his arm recovers between starts. So far, though, all signs point to Darvish getting closer to pitching in a game.

“I feel like we should keep him on a pace that keeps him moving forward,” Brocail said Saturday. “He’s out of the stable. You’ve got to let him go.”

This story was originally published April 9, 2016 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Darvish tracking for late-May return to Rangers."