Orange County Register

The excitement over the free agency of Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman is understandable. He’s 21, left-handed, and has a 100 mph fastball.

Yu Darvish (Getty Images)

The international pitcher we might not see pitching in the major leagues for 10 years (if then), but the one that truly gets me excited is Yu Darvish, 23, who was just named Pacific League MVP in Japan.

Darvish, a right-hander, was last seen in the United States getting the final out (right) in relief against South Korea in the World Baseball Classic championship game at Dodger Stadium on March 23.

That’s right, a pitcher who worked in the WBC somehow managed to have a great season. Darvish was 15-5 with a 1.73 ERA and 167 strikeouts for the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters.

He pitched (and won) Game 2 of the Japan Series against eventual champion Yomiuri Giants despite a broken finger — an injury I seriously doubt can be linked to WBC participation.

Darvish did have some shoulder discomfort and a sore back that bothered him late in the season, costing him a playoff round.

Darvish was also Pacific League MVP in 2007, at the tender age of 21.

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