Hey Yu!

Highly touted Japanese right handed pitcher Yu Darvish made his Rangers debut today throwing 2 scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres in Cactus League action. Featuring a 95 mile per hour fastball and some devastating breaking pitches, Darvish allowed 2 hits, both doubles, and struck out 3 while throwing 26 of his 36 pitches for strikes. Perhaps most impressively, he got after the Padres early in the count throwing first pitch strikes to 7 of the 8 batters he faced.

Photo Credit: grantland.com

Darvish, who signed a 6-year $60M deal with the Rangers in January, wasn't exactly pitching to the Ogden Raptors or Montgomery Biscuits either. Here's a look at the 8 hitters he faced:

1st Inning
1 - Cameron Maybin - Struck Out Looking
2 - Orlando Hudson - Double
3 - Jesus Guzman - Line Out to Center
4 - Carlos Quentin - Struck Out Swinging

2nd Inning
5 - Will Venable - Double
6 - Mark Kotsay - Ground Out to First
7 - James Darnell - Fielder's Choice to Pitcher
8 - John Baker - Struck Out Swinging

Maybin's a former first round draft pick, Hudson's a 2-time all star, Guzman hit .312 in 76 games for the Padres last year, Quentin's a 2-time all star, Venable is entering his 5th major league season, Kotsay has over 1700 career hits, Darnell hit 23 homers in the minors (AA/AAA) last year, and Baker was featured in the Moneyball draft of 2002.

I talked about it a few months ago when the Rangers were first linked to Darvish. I'm telling you, this guy is the real deal. Expect big things from him this year. I'm calling it now.