SURPRISE, Ariz. -- One constant over the first week of camp is that whenever Yu Darvish steps on a mound, Jonathan Lucroy steps behind the plate. They were together again Monday for Darvish's 34-pitch live batting practice session. The routine will continue until Lucroy leaves for the World Baseball Classic in March.
Lucroy saw Darvish throw a handful of split-finger fastballs, a pitch that may end up replacing his changeup. According to brooksbaseball.net, Darvish threw only 36 changeups last year. He got 16 swings (44 percent) but only three swings and misses. In 2014, before Tommy John surgery, he threw the splitter 49 times and got swings on 29 of them (59 percent), including 12 swings and misses.