On this day last year, Yu Darvish signed a six-year, $126 million contract with the Cubs.
One year later, the 32-year-old is healthy and looking to have a bounce back season.
Here's what the right-hander had to say after throwing 45 pitches on Sunday.
"I couldn't do anything last year for the Cubs," Darvish said. "I really love the fans and this organization but I couldn't do anything. I really want to do something for Chicago and the Cubs."
Darvish's first season with the Cubs was plagued by injuries. In only eight games, he went 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA and 49 strikeouts.
"His health is everything, clearly," Theo Epstein said at the Cubs Convention last month. "I know it's not worth anything at this point of the calendar, but the reports are terrific. He's added a lot of good muscle, he's added a lot of flexibility.
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"Most importantly, his arm feels terrific. He's experiencing no discomfort whatsoever when throwing and when testing his arm. He's walking around with a little bit of confidence. I think that reflects how he's feeling about himself physically."
Cubs pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report on Wednesday, while the full team will report on Monday, Feb. 18.