OK, so baby steps for Yu Darvish, but at this point the Chicago Cubs and fans will take any positive news regarding their big free agent pitcher.
Prior to Tuesday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Darvish was at Wrigley Field playing catch.
Darvish playing catch
— Mark Gonzales (@MDGonzales) July 24, 2018
All right, nothing too big there. But there was more!
Darvish felt good another after that and headed underneath the bleachers to throw a bullpen session. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer watched Darvish throw 16 pitches in the quick pen session along with the team’s training staff.
Yu Darvish headed to the bullpen, meaning he'll throw off the mound. Training staff plus Theo/Jed headed there as well.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) July 24, 2018
Theo and Jed watched #Cubs Darvish throw in bullpen. Hope to get update on next step
— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) July 24, 2018
The last time Darvish threw a bullpen was back in June in Los Angeles. That’s when the Cubs were hopeful Darvish would feel OK and be ready to return against the Minnesota Twins.
As we know, that bullpen in LA didn’t go well and Darvish ended up going to Dallas, where he got a cortisone shot after being diagnosed with impingement in his elbow.
This time, the bullpen session went well!
Maddon on Darvish bullpen session: 16pitches, went well. Will discuss how he feels tomorrow and the plan moving forward. #Cubs
— Kelly Crull (@Kelly_Crull) July 24, 2018
Still need to more know Wednesday morning about how Darvish feels, but if the good momentum continues, then Darvish could make a rehab start on Aug. 6. That’s going off the first time he was coming back from the triceps injury.
Remember, last time around Darvish made a rehab start with the South Bend Cubs 13 days after throwing a bullpen session. So, the Aug. 6, date is 13 days after Tuesday’s throwing.
Darvish might need a second rehab start and that could come on Aug. 11, if there are no setbacks going forward. He last pitched for the Cubs on May 20, against the Cincinnati Reds and his rehab start in South Bend was on June 25.
So, we wait for hopefully more good news on Wednesday.
