Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish regained his ace status during the 2020 regular season. (Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish regained his ace status during the 2020 regular season. (Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports)

LOOK: Yu Darvish tweets thoughtful thank-you to Cubs fans


by - Senior Writer -

CHICAGO — Although the Chicago Cubs' 2020 season ended in disappointing fashion, the primary bright spot from the team's regular season should not be forgotten. Starting pitcher Yu Darvish solidifying himself as the certified ace that he once was with the Texas Rangers was, without a doubt, the most positive storyline surrounding the Cubs to develop this summer.

Darvish showed signs that he was returning to greatness late in the 2019 season, and a 2020 showing that saw him lead the majors with eight wins put a stamp on Darvish's resurgence. Thanks to an 8-3 record, a 2.01 ERA and 93 strikeouts in the regular season, Darvish is expected to finish in the top three of the National League Cy Young Award voting.

Unfortunately for Darvish, his season concluded rather ingloriously, with the right-hander giving up two runs in a shutout loss that eliminated the Cubs from the playoffs. In the wake of the disappointing playoff showing by his team, Darvish expressed his gratitude for Cubs fans on Twitter, offering words of encouragement in the aftermath of a season marred by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tweeting out a thank-you to the fans, Darvish offered a rallying cry for everyone in the Cubs family to get their hopes up for an improved 2021 season. While many questions loom regarding the Cubs' offseason plans, there is no question that Darvish will remain a fixture of the team's starting rotation next year, when the North Siders will aim to snap their World Series hiatus by returning to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2016.

Comment on this story
Print   
Send Feedback to Cole Little: Email | Comment
Post your comments!