Rehabilitating Yu Darvish offered $1,000 to minor leaguers if they could take him deep
As he continues to work his way back from Tommy John surgery in his right elbow in March of last year, Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish decided to have a little fun during a pitching session on Thursday against a couple minor-leaguers.
''I told the hitters, if you hit a home run, I'll give you $1,000,'' Darvish said through an interpreter. ''So that's what I was thinking on when I was throwing. That was about it.''
It was just the first time the 29-year-old faced live hitters since the surgery but he didn't finish any lighter in the wallet.
''I didn't give them a strike,'' Darvish said with a smile. Neither batter -- -- Joe Jackson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa of the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders -- took him deep.
Next up for the 6-foot-5, hard-throwing righty is a minor league assignment, where he may want to lay off the wagering, even if it's on himself.
