MESA, Ariz. (670 The Score) -- Despite an erratic outing, Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish shared a positive report Tuesday afternoon after his first competitive outing since being sidelined by elbow troubles last summer that eventually necessitated surgery.
Darvish went 1 1/3 innings against the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs, one earned, on no hits and four walks while striking out none. Darvish had trouble commanding his breaking ball but otherwise felt all systems were a go.
"I felt pretty good physically," Darvish said. "No pain -- that is the big part. This was a great day for me. I just couldn't throw strikes with my breaking ball."
Darvish last had made a big league start on May 20. After that, he began having triceps issues and after an aborted rehab trek through the minor leagues, he was shut down for the season and had an arthroscopic debridement procedure in his throwing elbow in September. He was 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA in eight starts in 2018.
Darvish, 32, reported to Mesa in January to get a head start on the season. He was pleased with his velocity and strength Tuesday.
"The fastball was sitting 94-96 mph," he said. "My last outing (in a rehab start) in South Bend, I was throwing 86- 89 mph. So that was huge today."
Bernstein: Jon Lester shouldn't fight modern baseball
The Cubs had a big bottom of the first inning that lasted more than 20 minutes, which forced Darvish to wait and get heated up again a second time. He used his entire arsenal.
"During the season, that is going to happen," he said. "That is good practice for me. You learn to keep the body warm, but it did not affect me.
"I threw fastball, curve, slider and cutter. I never had that (poor control) before. I am a breaking ball pitcher, but that is going to happen. I will get there next outing."
Darvish spoke in English to American reporters afterward, a departure from his normal practice. The change was reflective of him become more comfortable with teammates and media members.
"My mental self is very good this year -- much better than last year," Darvish said. "Now I feel more comfortable. I am ready to play with this team this year. I was so excited like this was the first outing of my life. It had been seven months. So I was so excited."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
