NEW YORK (AP) Texas Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish has thrown about 45 pitches in a three-inning simulated game and could return to the rotation shortly after the All-Star break.
Darvish, sidelined by shoulder discomfort since his most recent outing June 8, threw all his pitches Wednesday from the Yankee Stadium mound, catcher Bryan Holiday says. Batters included Rangers teammates Rougned Odor and Jurickson Profar.
Pitching coach Doug Brocail says Darvish's next step will be determined Thursday, when Texas wraps up a four-game series against the New York Yankees.
Depending on how Darvish feels, Brocail says a minor league rehab assignment of about 60 pitches or another simulated game are both possibilities - but the Rangers won't put Darvish back in their rotation until their schedule resumes July 15 following the All-Star break.
In other news, Texas has claimed left-hander Eric Surkamp off waivers from Oakland and optioned him to Triple-A Round Rock.
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