SCOTTSDALE, Arizona — More on new Cubs starter Yu Darvish below, but here’s a good summary from pitching coach Jim Hickey on how Darvish has prepared for this season:
“What has been the biggest surprise is that I’m not surprised at anything, and that’s not to say it hasn’t been impressive because it’s been very impressive,” Hickey said on Friday, one day prior to Darvish’s Cubs debut. “I’ve been watching him for a number of years from the other side and it’s always been very impressive.
“I’m maybe a little surprised, if you will, at the velocity as he’s crept up to 98 miles an hour in Spring Training,” Hickey said.