ARLINGTON, Texas — Yu Darvish leaned over and looked at his name and the No. 11 on the back of his Texas Rangers jersey. Then he looked up and smiled.
“Excited, that’s all I feel right now,” Darvish said through a translator. “Just excited going forward.
Japan’s best pitcher is now officially a member of the two-time defending American League champions, with his formal introduction Friday night in Texas coming two days after the right-hander agreed to a six-year contract that guarantees him $56 million.
The 25-year-old Darvish, who exceled in Japan’s Pacific League the past seven seasons, said he wasn’t prepared to go into specifics about the several different reasons why he decided to make the move to United States now.
But he said he felt no pressure and planned to keep an open mind and be relaxed — with his new team and in a new country.
25-year-old was presented with his No. 11 jersey in a Friday news conference at Rangers Ballpark, which was broadcast live in Darvish's homeland in Japan.
Darvish says the Rangers made him feel like family when he made his first visit to Texas two weeks ago. He says their passion made him feel strongly toward the team.
MORE: Rangers betting $112M Darvish can be their ace
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels says there haven't been many bigger off-the-field moments in team history than the signing of Darvish.
“Excited, that’s all I feel right now,” Darvish said through a translator. “Just excited going forward.
Japan’s best pitcher is now officially a member of the two-time defending American League champions, with his formal introduction Friday night in Texas coming two days after the right-hander agreed to a six-year contract that guarantees him $56 million.
The 25-year-old Darvish, who exceled in Japan’s Pacific League the past seven seasons, said he wasn’t prepared to go into specifics about the several different reasons why he decided to make the move to United States now.
But he said he felt no pressure and planned to keep an open mind and be relaxed — with his new team and in a new country.
25-year-old was presented with his No. 11 jersey in a Friday news conference at Rangers Ballpark, which was broadcast live in Darvish's homeland in Japan.
Darvish says the Rangers made him feel like family when he made his first visit to Texas two weeks ago. He says their passion made him feel strongly toward the team.
MORE: Rangers betting $112M Darvish can be their ace
Rangers general manager Jon Daniels says there haven't been many bigger off-the-field moments in team history than the signing of Darvish.
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