SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Wednesday might have been report date for position players for the Texas Rangers but it was also the first time pitchers faced hitters this spring.
Live batting practice, which was a first-day staple of camp the past few seasons, began Wednesday for the Texas starters.
The first group to face hitters was the top four members of the Texas rotation. That included Yu Darvish, who threw 30 pitches and impressed pitching coach Mike Maddux.
"I thought Yu was very good, very sharp," Maddux said. "The guys couldn't pull the trigger on him. And then when they did they had a hard time. His stuff was good across the board."
He had plenty of company too.
"I thought it was great man," Maddux said. "It was one of my favorite sounds, a broken bat. That lets you know you're putting a ball where it's supposed to be. A lot of balls on the ground that I saw."
Maddux was impressed by what he saw from Colby Lewis, Derek Holland and Yovani Gallardo. Ross Detwiler and Lisalverto Bonilla also threw well and Nick Tepesch got better as his session went on.
Newly acquired lefty Edgar Olmos threw on the side and will be on his own throwing program before joining in with the rest of the relievers.
Lefthander Michael Kirkman, who has been slowed by a sore left shoulder, played catch Wednesday and had no issues. Lefthander Matt Harrison also played catch from 120 feet for the first time since his spinal fusion surgery and felt good. Harrison will do that again Friday and Sunday before adding another 15 feet to his throwing program.
The pitchers who threw live BP Wednesday will do so again Friday.
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