Three-time American League All-Star Yu Darvish said Sunday that he has begun the first phase of rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and is planning to come back better than ever.
"My desire is to come back a better pitcher than I was before," Darvish said at the Texas Rangers' spring training facility a week after having ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction surgery.
The 28-year-old right-hander has his right elbow immobilized and is restricted to moving the fingers on his right hand for no longer than 15 minutes at a time.
"My rehab is like a granddad's," he joked.
With his immobilized elbow, he is not sleeping well and waking up about every two hours, he said.
Generally, players who undergo the procedure require four months before they can resume playing catch. Darvish, who led the major leagues in strikeouts in 2013, said he intends to do his rehab right and be ready for next season.
"I was told they (the doctors) did everything they needed to do," he said. "For me, that's over and everything's fine, so I want make good use of the upcoming year and come back strong."