Yu Darvish MRI shows inflammation in back has subsided

Darvish received the good news following an exam by Rangers Spine Consultant Dr. Drew Dossett in Dallas this week. The pitcher will now be able to take on his regular off-season throwing regiment and conditioning activities. He will spend a few more days in Texas working out before returning to Japan.

The Rangers ace battled with the injury towards the end of the 2013 season, occasionally experiencing numbness in his right leg as a result, according to Todd Wills and Richard Durrett of ESPNDallas.com. There is no word on exactly when the condition began, but Darvish did display a noticeable drop in his fastball velocity in the month of September. After averaging close to 94 mph throughout the season, his September velocity was just 92.4 according to Pitch F/X data from Brooksbaseball.com.

The Japanese star finished the season with a record of 13-9 in 32 starts, posting an ERA of 2.83 over 209 2/3 innings pitched. His 11.9 K/9 rate was the best in the league, helping him earn a second-place finish in AL Cy Young voting.

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