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Yu Darvish

Updated: April 17, 2012, 5:11 PM ET
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Yu Darvish is starting pitcher in his first season with the Texas Rangers. Darvish, who pitched professionally in Japan for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, was posted for a reported $51.7 million, and came to terms on a contract with the Rangers on the final day of the exclusive 30-day window.

Darvish made his professional debut in Japan in 2005, and pitched seven seasons for the Fighters, compiling a 93-38 record with a 1.99 ERA and 1,259 strikeouts. He won Pacific League MVP honors in 2007 and 2009, and led the league in strikeouts three times (2007, 2010, 2011). Darvish emerged on the international scene in 2009, leading Japan to the gold medal at the World Baseball Classic. He went 2-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 13 innings of work.

VIDEO RESULTS FOR YU DARVISH

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NEWS RESULTS FOR YU DARVISH

  1. Stock report: Adrian Beltre up, bats down

    Richard Durrett, Texas Rangers

    It was a 3-3 road trip over the past week prior to the Texas Rangers' off day on Thursday. So let's take stock of this team the past week: STOCK UP ...

    Story | May 25, 2012

  2. Dose of Darvish: Let's talk walks

    Richard Durrett, Texas Rangers

    The glaring statistic from Yu Darvish's struggling start Monday in Seattle was his command problems, leading to a season-high six walks. Darvish n...

    Story | May 24, 2012

  3. Podcast: Hamels, Pujols, Sutton!

    Eric Karabell, SweetSpot

    SweetSpot blogger Dave Schoenfield and I had plenty to talk about on Thursday's Baseball Today podcast! 1. Cole Hamels let his pitching do the talk...

    Story | May 24, 2012

  4. Manager Dirk Nowitzki: Wash's strategy 'aggressive'

    Jeff Caplan, Dallas Mavericks

    Dallas Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki fashions himself as something of an increasingly knowledgeable baseball fan. After all, the 7-foot German tossed o...

    Story | May 23, 2012

  5. Rapid Reaction: Rangers 3, Mariners 1

    Bryan Dolgin, Texas Rangers

    Matt Harrison pitched seven strong innings and Joe Nathan collected his 10th save as the Rangers evened the series with the Seattle Mariners at a game...

    Story | May 22, 2012

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AUDIO RESULTS FOR YU DARVISH

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PHOTO RESULTS FOR YU DARVISH

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YU DARVISH QUICK FACTS

Birth Date: Aug. 16, 1986
Birth Place: Habikino, Japan
NPB Team: Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 216 lbs.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

NPB Statistics

Starts: 164
W-L: 93-38
ERA: 1.99
Strikeouts: 1,259
Walks: 333
CG: 55
SHO: 18

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NOTABLE JAPANESE FREE AGENT CONTRACTS

Team Yr Yrs-$M
Yu Darvish Rangers'11-12 6-$60.0>>
Daisuke Matsuzaka Red Sox'06-07 6-$52.0
Hideki Matsui Yankees'02-03 3-$21.0
Kazuo Matsui Mets'03-04 3-$20.1
Kenji Johjima Mariners'05-06 3-$16.5
Ichiro Suzuki Mariners'00-01 3-$14.1
Hideki Irabu Yankees'96-97 4-$12.8
Kaz Ishii Dodgers'01-02 4-$12.8
>> Rangers also paid $51.7 million posting fee