Texas Rangers All-Time Team: The Pitchers

Apr 2, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) pitches against the Houston Astros in the third inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Campbell-USA TODAY Sports

Yu Darvish (39-25, 3.27) – The Texas Rangers signed the 25-year old Japanese ace on January 18, 2012. Expectations and excitement filled the minds of Rangers fans everywhere. Darvish has not disappointed. In three seasons Yu Darvish has 83 game starts, 2 complete games (both in 2014), 1 shutout, 198 earned runs, 218 walks, and 680 strikeouts over 545.1 innings pitched.

Darvish made his MLB debut on April 9, 2012 against the Seattle Mariners. He went 5 2/3 innings giving up 8 runs, 5 hits, while striking out 5 and earning his first major league win.

4/24/2012 Darvish tosses a 2-0 shutout win over the New York Yankees. He gave up 7 hits, walked two, but this was also his first 10 strikeout game.

4/2/2013 Playing at Houston Astros in his first start of the 2013 season Darvish had baseball fans holding their breath as he was one out away from a perfect game, and then Marwin Gonzalez came to plate. The rest is history. I still get nervous watching this game as if the outcome will somehow be different.

On May 27, 2013 Yu “The History Maker” Darvish became first pitcher to reach 100 K’s before Memorial Day since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling did it in 2002.

8/12/2013 Houston seems to be Darvish’s kryptonite as he flirted with another no-no through 7.1 innings when he gave up a home run. But, he struck out a career-high 15 and earned his 200th strikeout.

Yu Darvish made his first start of the 2014 season on April 6 against the Tampa Bay Rays, and once again made history. He struck out David DeJesus and Wil Myers earning his 500th strikeout of his career. Darvish became the fastest pitcher earning 500 strikeouts by doing so in only 402 2/3 innings pitched.

Next: Kenny Rogers and the Bullpen