Darvish rehab assignment imminent after live bullpen session for Rangers

Yu Darvish threw a 45-pitch bullpen session Tuesday afternoon at Globe Life Park, his fourth such session.

Darvish wanted to wait until Wednesday before talking to the media about his progress. Manager Jeff Banister also chose to wait until Wednesday, after he’s spoken with Darvish, to say when the right-hander would begin his rehab assignment in the minors.

Hanser Alberto, Brett Nicholas and Ryan Rua faced Darvish, who was throwing off the diamond. It was the third consecutive bullpen session Bryan Holaday has caught from Darvish.

“He has special stuff. When you throw a fastball down and away and guys turn around and ask, ‘What was that?’ that’s when you know you have a pretty special fastball,” Holaday said. “You don’t get that very often.”

Darvish was tentatively expected to start his rehab stint Sunday with Double A Frisco but that’s still left to be determined after Darvish meets with trainers and Banister on Wednesday.

Darvish told members of the Japanese media that he stopped at 45 pitches because he felt good. He was initially expected to throw four innings with up to 60 pitches.

Banister said the number of pitches wasn’t an issue.

“I think [stopping early] was always an option. As long as he hits that front end,” Banister said. “Anything beyond that is a plus.”

Banister, who watched the session along with pitching coach Doug Brocail, bullpen coach Brad Holman and Rangers co-owner Ray Davis, said he noticed improved off-speed pitches from Darvish.

“Secondary stuff was good,” he said. “Typically, that’s the last thing that shows up [for pitchers returning from Tommy John]. He looked better, cleaner. The arm strength buildup is the key. I want him to face other hitters too, but when the time is appropriate. When he’s ready, he’s ready.”

Darvish’s long-awaited rehab assignment should be announced Wednesday afternoon.

Beasley update

Third base coach Tony Beasley begins a five-week radiation treatment in Houston next week. Beasley will receive 28 rounds of radiation along with chemotherapy pills. His treatment for rectal cancer begins Monday and ends June 8. He’ll remain in Houston for the duration.

The cancerous tumor shrank significantly with chemotherapy treatment in Arizona during spring training, Beasley said, but it needs to shrink more for surgery to be possible.

“It was a very good update, but [the doctor] wants more,” Beasley said. “We need that tumor to be gone or to shrink down a little more. I’ve got a long, drawn-out summer, but we’ll take it one step at a time.”

Beasley said being away from the team will be tough but “but I’ll be watching them every night.”

The Rangers play their first series in Houston May 20-22 so he’s likely to reunite with them that weekend. The prospect of missing the entire season is not on Beasley’s mind at the moment.

“I can’t think about that right now,” he said. “It’s not the most important thing in my life right now. That box will be there. We’ve got to make sure I’m there.”

Briefly

▪ Left-hander Cole Hamels will let Banister and the club know how he feels Wednesday before they determine whether he’ll start Saturday’s game against the Angels. Hamels missed Monday’s start with tightness in his left groin.

▪ Right-fielder Shin-Soo Choo hopes to be back in the lineup in a few weeks after playing several games for Double A Frisco. “I’m thinking I’d want to go to the minor leagues for a couple games,” said Choo, who has been on the disabled list since April 10 with a strained right calf. “I don’t want to test it up here.”

▪ Rookie outfielder Nomar Mazara turned 21 Tuesday.

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 8:08 PM with the headline "Darvish rehab assignment imminent after live bullpen session for Rangers."