The first pitch Edinson Volquez threw Wednesday, in his first meaningful game against a real major-league batter since August of 2017, registered 95 mph on the Surprise Stadium radar gun.
The next one came in at 96.
“Oh my god,” Texas Rangers manager Chris Woodward said.
He was excited, even though Volquez ended up allowing four runs in his one inning of work against the Chicago Cubs. All that mattered after a 9-5 Cactus League loss was that Volquez feels good some 18 months removed from Tommy John surgery.
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“That’s about as happy as I’ve ever been after a four-spot,” Woodward said.