SURPRISE, Ariz. — If Yu Darvish is the biggest attraction at spring training for the Texas Rangers, team president Nolan Ryan is a close second.
Ryan addressed an overflow media crowd Wednesday at the team's spring training complex, hitting on all things Darvish.
The Hall of Famer is anxious to see how Darvish performs this season, but also doesn't want to raise expectations too high.
"He's a guy who's going to be one of the leaders of our staff in innings pitched," Ryan said. "There's going to be an adjustment, obviously. What that adjustment's going to be, I don't really know. He's going to have to learn the hitters. That's something he won't be able to do until he pitches for them and gets a feel for them."
Ryan said Darvish will also have to get used to pitching every fifth day instead of every sixth day and the Major League baseball, which is bigger than the ball used in Japan.
"There will be those adjustments he has to make, and we will try to help him any way we can," said Ryan, who will leave town before Darvish throws in Thursday's first workout. "Also with the cultural differences and developing a comfort level, not only with the ballclub and his new teammates but the Metroplex and all those things. There are so many unknowns that he's going to have to deal with."
While it sounds like a tall order even for a 6-4 pitcher with an Elvis-like following, Ryan is confident Darvish is up for the task. The Rangers hope so after spending more than $111 million to sign him.
Ryan doesn't think Darvish will have a problem with the following he has. The huge turnout by the Japanese media in Surprise is nothing new for Darvish, and Ryan thinks he'll be fine with having his every move this spring photographed or videotaped.
"He's accustomed to the attention, and we're not accustomed to having the attention we've received since everybody has come to camp here," said Ryan, who believes the media gathering he was at Wednesday was the biggest he's seen.
While everyone is eager to see Darvish this spring, Ryan has other goals.
"What I want to see is us continue as we did coming in last spring and going about our business as we did last year," Ryan said. "I couldn't have been any happier with the team's approach to camp last year."
Ryan isn't concerned about a World Series hangover. He saw proof of that earlier this month as players were at Rangers Ballpark working out in preparations for making another run at a World Series.
Ryan said one of Darvish's main goals is finding his fit in the Texas clubhouse, something he doesn't think will be a problem.
Baseball's all-time strikeout leader wants Darvish to stay focused on his job and the rest of the game will take care of itself, no matter how many people are watching.
"My advice to him would be to just come in and don't try to do more than you're capable of doing," Ryan said. "Just enjoy the spring. Enjoy the new situation and challenges that he has, and if he has any concerns or questions, we're here to support him."
