Darvish almost back to full mound for 1st time since surgery

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) Texas Rangers ace Yu Darvish is close to getting back on a full-size mound for the first time in nearly a year after elbow surgery.

Darvish threw 25 pitches off a half-mound Friday at spring training. It was the third time in five days he did that.

New Texas pitching coach Doug Brocail said it was another ''really good day'' for Darvish.

If Darvish recovers from his latest bullpen session with no issues, his next one will be off a regulation mound. That could be Sunday or Monday.

Darvish hasn't thrown off a full mound since working one inning in a Cactus League game last March 5. He left that game with tightness in his right elbow, and 12 days later had surgery that forced him to miss all of last season.