Another rehab start moves Darvish closer to Rangers’ rotation

Yu Darvish likely will make one more start on medical rehabilitation assignment before rejoining the Texas Rangers’ rotation after allowing only one unearned run Thursday morning for Double A Frisco.

The right-hander, recovering from Tommy John surgery, remains on track for a May 27 debut after throwing 68 pitches in five innings at Midland, the Double A affiliate for the Oakland A’s. He allowed only three hits, all singles, and walked one batter while recording six strikeouts.

Rather than focusing on one aspect of pitching, be it off-speed pitches or pitch sequences, Darvish told reporters that he was pitching as the game dictation, which he said also has importance.

“It’s not like I was working on something today. I was just more realistically pitching to game situations. I thought the hitters weren’t hitting my curveballs, so I threw curveballs.”

Darvish’s fastball sat from 93 to 95 mph, and he topped out at 97. The early start time, 11 a.m., caused him to wake up earlier than normal for a ballplayer this time of year, but he knocked out the cobwebs quickly.

“Overall, it was a good outing,” Darvish said. “I’m still on a rehab assignment. I’m just focusing on one outing each time I go out there. I feel pretty confident right now, so just keep going.”

His fifth and perhaps final rehab outing is likely to be Sunday at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco.

This story was originally published May 17, 2016 at 4:08 PM with the headline "Another rehab start moves Darvish closer to Rangers’ rotation."