Yu Darvish battled hip discomfort in offseason, says he feels healthy
Yu Darvish has been an All Star his first two seasons in the majors. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Yu Darvish felt some hip discomfort this offseason but he arrived in Arizona on Sunday for Rangers spring training feeling healthy after he altered his weightlifting program, he told reporters.
Wrote Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com: "Darvish told the Japanese reporters shortly after his 34-pitch bullpen session — his first of spring training and ninth this offseason — that his trainer recommended he quit lifting heavy weights and that the hip felt better starting in mid-January.
"Darvish said he trained mostly in Japan this offseason, but did spend some time in Hawaii and that the warm weather also helped him physically. He was given an injection right after the season for pain in his back, but reports shortly after that were that his back felt better."
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The two-time All Star is entering his third season in Major League Baseball and is scheduled to pitch opening day against the Phillies on March 31.
The 27-year-old finished second in the AL Cy Young voting last season after going 13-9 with a 2.83 in 32 starts and led the league with 277 strikeouts.
