:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62716145/usa_today_10882448.0.jpg)
The last time Yu Darvish was on a pitcher’s mound was August 19, when he threw one inning for Low-A South Bend and left the game with apparent elbow issues.
In September, Darvish had an arthroscopic procedure on his right elbow and it was stated at the time that he’d be ready for spring training.
On Wednesday, Darvish posted this to his Instagram account:
TMI Sports Medicine is located in Frisco, Texas. Darvish has a home in the Dallas area.
Darvish also sent out this tweet Wednesday:
日本の皆さまおはようございます。
— ダルビッシュ有(Yu Darvish) (@faridyu) December 19, 2018
私事ですが、最近投げはじめました。
ずっと痛かった肘が嘘のように痛くないです！
このまま順調にいけるように頑張ります！
tmisportsmed
↑フォローしてくださいね^_^有益な情報があるかも！#Cubs #Darvish https://t.co/IhazLDC1bI
Roughly translated, that says:
Good morning Japan everyone.
It was a personal matter, but recently began to throw.
The elbow which was painful much does not hurt like the lie!
I will do my best to keep going smoothly!
Tmisportsmed, please follow me. There may ↑ ^_^ be useful information! #Cubs #Darvish
The Cubs’ first spring training game, February 23 vs. the Brewers, is just nine weeks from this Saturday, and as pitchers and catchers usually report a couple of weeks before that, we are likely only seven weeks or so from seeing Cubs players, including Darvish, back on the field for workouts.
It goes without saying that having a healthy, productive Darvish in 2019 would be a huge boost to the Cubs’ starting rotation. Let’s hope all he went through in 2018 and the apparently successful elbow procedure give the Cubs the guy they thought they were getting a year ago.