SURPRISE, Ariz. – It was another impressive showing for right-hander Yu Darvish on Saturday in camp for the Texas Rangers.
Darvish threw his second bullpen session of the spring and also faced hitters for the second time. He was again sharp in his 22-pitch showing as only four pitches were put in play.
Darvish impressed the team's minor league pitching coordinator Danny Clark with his sinker and his ability to command his pitches.
Clark also liked the way Darvish went about his business on the mound.
"I thought his approach and his presence on the mound was very good, especially for a guy who's getting a lot of attention right now," he said. "That's the thing with a lot of times with young pitchers it's hard to get them to understand, especially when the front-office people come around is keeping your mound presence."
There's still a circus atmosphere surrounding Darvish although some of the Japanese media have left the camp in Surprise. There are plenty of Darvish jerseys being worn by fans and there was a Japanese man in a Texas uniform Saturday with "Minivish" written across the back of his jersey.
There wasn't anything mini about Darvish to the two batters he faced Saturday – prospects Jake Skole and Mike Olt. Olt hit three balls fair, including one that may have gone for a hit. Skole failed to make contact.
"I've never seen a pitcher throw with that kind of movement," said Olt, who was helped by the fact that he knew what Darvish was throwing. "He was getting down and in movement, down and away movement, up and in movement. I was just lucky he was calling it."
Darvish threw one pitch to Skole that neither he nor catcher Yorvit Torrealba knew if it was a strike because it fooled both of them.
The dominant BP sessions may come to an end for Darvish on Monday. Texas has its first full-squad workout Sunday, and Darvish will face the regulars in batting practice Monday. Both Josh Hamilton and Michael Young have joked they want to face Darvish.
