Spring training can't get over soon enough for the Texas Rangers, who have been beset by injuries in the waning days of the exhibition season. The latest addition to the list of ailing Rangers: ace right-hander Yu Darvish.
"Yu Darvish played catch on Monday but is still dealing with a stiff neck," reported T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com. "The Rangers aren’t sure when he’ll get back on the mound and it appears more questionable if he’ll be ready for Opening Day."
General manager Jon Daniels spoke about Darvish's injury (via Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News):
Whenever a guy is not out there, there is some level of concern. This doesn’t appear to be a long-term deal, but he’s an important guy. We want to make sure he can make thirty or more starts for us. I’m optimistic he will be able to take his turn, but if we have to move him back it’s not the end of the world.
Darvish's neck injury comes on the heels of second baseman Jurickson Profar being sidelined for 10-12 weeks with a torn shoulder muscle and Geovany Soto undergoing knee surgery that will keep him out for 10-12 weeks as well.
On top of that, left-hander Derek Holland is scheduled to miss at least half the season after having knee surgery in January.
As Jane Lee of MLB.com notes, it's been a rough spring for the Rangers:
The silver lining for Darvish is his injury doesn't sound serious, based on Daniels' comments. The Japanese ace has quickly evolved into one of the best pitchers in baseball, finishing second in AL Cy Young voting last season and leading the league with 277 strikeouts.
Once Darvish gets over the injury and returns to the mound, fans should expect the same type of dominant performances that have made him one of the most feared pitchers in all of baseball.
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