Yu Darvish top 10 moments

May 22, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) pitches against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish has quickly made a name for himself with the organization and is quickly becoming a legend on the team.  Maybe one day the Rangers will make a Darvish character to join the Dot Legends Race against Nolan Ryan, Jim Bowie and company.

Right, there are not many pitchers to compare him with.  Looking back at some of the clips on MLB.com shows how great he is.  Many of the clips are title with sayings such as strong start, outstanding performance, stellar start, near no-no, and near perfect.

With those last two, they’ll some day be no-hitter and perfect game.  He’s been one pitch away several times and it is probably a safe bet to say he’ll eventually get a no-hitter one day and possibly a perfect game.

It might even seem unfair how easy Yu Darvish makes it look.  Even when a pitch is thrown through the air and glides perfectly in the glove for a strike three call, it still seems at wasn’t good enough for him.  That some how that pitch didn’t land exactly where he wanted it.

As fans, we tune in to every game and hang on every pitch from him.  Again this season he has taken another game to the last out for a no-hitter, but Big Papi David Ortiz spoiled the moment.

Yu Darvish will continue to dazzle fans and probably even the his fellow teammates on the Texas Rangers.  He’s only been with the Rangers for a short time, but he has had several great moments.

Here  is a look back at 10 of those moments.

10. Yu Darvish first pitch in the majors.

On April 9, 2012 in front of a crowd of 42,003 Yu Darvish made his first major league start as a Texas Rangers.   He started off a bit rocky giving up 4 runs to the Mariners, but the Rangers bats managed to light up scoreboard for 11 runs to help Darvish earn his first of many wins.

9.  Darvish collects his first hit

Darvish has a amazing ability to pitch but he can also hit the ball.  On June 20, 2012 against the San Diego Padre he recorded his first major league hit off a broken bat single.  Sometimes when the Rangers are down 0-1 in games it seems they should just give him a bat to allow him to score.  But, even though he can get an occasional hit, that should be left to the Rangers offense.

7.  Little bit extra on that ball

Darvish throws the ball very hand and does everything he can with his fingers to give it that extra movement.  On April 16, 2014 he was trying to hard he managed to cut his thumb with his finger nails causing to bleed throughout the game.

6.  Darvish breaks rookie record with 13 wins.

It’s not much of a surprise now that Yu Darvish is doing well, but looking back to his first season no one thought he would be this good.  There have been a couple of pitchers come over from Japan, but no one like him just yet.

5.  Fans are in love with Yu

Each time Yu Darvish pitches he has a following either at home or away.  Some fans don’t miss a single game.  Here’s a look at a fan who has a Yu Darvish big head.

4. Yu Darvish doppleganger catches foul thrown by Yu Darvish

On fan has been following Yu Darvish around for awhile know.  He’s been seen at several games including on the road in Anaheim and recently on May 14, 2014 at Globe Life Park in Arlington.  During that game Hank Conger fouled off a pitch by Yu Darvish in which a Yu Darvish doppleganger caught the ball.

3.  Marwin Gonzalez (ed)

During his first start of 2013 Yu Darvish took the Houston Astros down to the 27th batter for a perfect game.  Marwin Gonzalez squeaked one right up the middle to spoil the day for Darvish.   The ball was right through the legs of Darvish.  All Darvish could do was smile with disbelief.

2 . Yu having some fun

Near the end of last season, Darvish showed during warm up that not only is a great right-handed pitcher, but he’s able to throw from the left side also.

1.  Making batters look confused, silly, off balanced and made

If there is one thing that Yu Darvish can do, it is throw batters off.  He’s able to switch from a 94 MPH fastball to a 59 curve ball with ease.   What is even more amazing about those pitches and the varying speeds is that most of the time they are strikes.

Here are a few clips of Darvish making some amazing pitches.

Yu Darvish freezes Jim Thome with a great pitch to earn the strikeout and get out of the sixth inning (10/5/12)

Yu Darvish notches his ninth strikeout of the ballgame, getting Chris Iannetta swinging to end the eighth inning (9/20/12)

Yu Darvish strikes out Chris Carter swinging for the first out of the eighth inning (4/2/13)

swings and misses on a wicked 62 MPH breaking ball from Yu Darvish, causing the slugger to smile on his way back to box (5/26/2013)

Yu Darvish freezes

on a 59-mph eephus pitch, striking him out looking in the 4th inning (6/1/14)