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SURPRISE, Ariz. — Yu Darvish and the Texas Rangers had hoped the tightness felt by the three-time All-Star in his triceps during his spring training debut was nothing to be concerned about.
Instead, an MRI exam late Friday revealed just about the worst news possible.
Darvish has partially torn ligaments in addition to inflammation in his troublesome right elbow, and might need Tommy John surgery. It’s another massive blow a suddenly snake-bit franchise that struggled through a rash of devastating injuries last season.
“Not going to sugarcoat it, it’s not the news that we wanted,” Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said. “You basically have two choices: You can hang your head and kind of dwell on it or you can do everything you can to get him the right care and get him back.”
Just exactly what care that is had yet to be determined.
Darvish could try to pitch through the injury, rest it for six weeks and then spend a couple of months trying to build up his stamina, or undergo surgery that would end his season before it begins.
Daniels said the club would get a second opinion this weekend but indicated surgery may be the preferred option.
“The concern with the first two options is, are you delaying the inevitable?” he said. “It’s not black and white. … There’s no guarantees with any course.”
Darvish was shut down for the final seven weeks last season with inflammation in the same elbow. He underwent an MRI exam around Thanksgiving that came back clean, and had not experienced any trouble in workouts and bullpen sessions.
He first felt tightness while warming up in the bullpen before Thursday’s game against Kansas City, but did not inform anyone before taking the mound. He threw 12 pitches in his only inning, and then informed the Rangers staff of some pain.
Still, he said afterward through a translator that he did not think it was serious.
“I will be disappointed if I have to miss this season, but I want to look at all the options including getting a second opinion before I make a final decision,” Darvish said in a statement Saturday. “My heart is with my teammates and our focus remains on accomplishing our goals.”
Mets host families of slain NYPD officers
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — This weekend, the Mets have been hosting the families of slain NYPD officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. So, Ramos’ teenaged sons Justin and Jaden have been a presence, hanging out and meeting players.
For much of it, they have been trailed by cameras and reporters.
But when Michael Cuddyer spotted the two in a hallway off to the side of the main clubhouse, he sensed an opportunity.
Cuddyer has been performing card tricks since he was 11. He counts Brooklyn native David Blaine as his favorite magician, mostly because of his up-close-and-personal performance style.
“There’s no fancy props, no stage,” Cuddyer said. “He walks up to you with a deck of cards.”
Yankees’ Tanaka throws 1st simulated game
TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka looked sharp in his first simulated game.
The right-hander threw 23 of 29 pitches for strikes Saturday in the session broken down into two innings. The Japanese ace faced nine batters, giving up one single and striking out one.
“Overall I thought it was really good,” Tanaka said through an interpreter. “I think all of the pitches I threw today, pretty satisfied with.”
Tanaka could be ready to make his first exhibition start within a week.
“We’ll see how he is tomorrow and the next couple days, and judge based on that,” Yankees pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. “I think everything was where it should be. He’s had no problems. He’s using all his pitches. It was a good day of work.”
Tanaka feels ready to make his exhibition debut.
“Absolutely,” he said. “Whenever, wherever they want me to go, I think I’m ready to go into a game.”
Hundreds pack funeral for White Sox great
CHICAGO — Friends and family paid tribute Saturday to White Sox star Minnie Minoso at a funeral in Chicago, recalling the strength that enabled baseball’s first black Latino player to smile through the hurt of racial taunts as well as his genuine love for his fans.
In a message read out to the crowd, fellow Cuban and White Sox star Alexei Ramirez, who was away for a game, said Minoso’s courage paved the way for him and the younger generation of Latino ballplayers.
“Without Minnie, without his courage to leave Cuba for the major leagues, without his willingness to accept taunts and slights, none of us would be major leaguers,” he said. “… As I take the field today, a Cuban proudly wearing a White Sox jersey, I will do so thinking of Minnie. Thank you, my friend.”