ARLINGTON -- Yu Darvish's long road back to the Major Leagues from Tommy John surgery will go through West Texas oil country Tuesday when the Japanese star right-hander makes his fourth rehab start of 2016 for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders in Midland.
Darvish injured his right elbow after throwing only one inning in his Spring Training debut last year, underwent surgery and missed the entire 2015 season. He returned to a game for the first time two weeks ago, tossing two scoreless innings for Frisco, and has made two starts for Triple-A Round Rock since then.
Darvish has allowed two earned runs on three hits in nine total innings during his rehab stint. He has struck out nine and walked four, facing 35 batters.
A fifth rehab start in Frisco next Sunday would be the most likely scenario, but Rangers manager Jeff Banister said Sunday the team hasn't decided what Darvish's next step would be.
Darvish was 10-7 with a 3.06 ERA for the Rangers in 2014. He finished second in the American League Cy Young Award voting in 2013 after going 13-9 with a 2.83 ERA and a league-leading 277 strikeouts.
In three seasons with Texas, he is 39-25 with a 3.27 ERA and 680 strikeouts in 545 1/3 innings over 83 starts.