The San Diego Padres say pitcher Darvish Yu is expected to miss the next Major League Baseball season after elbow surgery.
The team said the 39-year-old right-hander underwent surgery on October 29 to repair an elbow ligament and a tendon in his arm. It said the operation was successful, but noted Darvish is expected to miss the entire 2026 season and that recovery can take 12 to 15 months.
In 2015, Darvish underwent Tommy John surgery to repair a ligament in his pitching elbow using a tendon of his own. The team said an artificial ligament was used in the latest operation.
Darvish said on social media that he will work hard in rehabilitation so he can throw the ball comfortably again.
Darvish was put on the injured list from the beginning of his 14th MLB season this year due to elbow inflammation. After returning to the team in July, he achieved his 204th win in his professional career in Japan and MLB — a record for pitchers who have played in the two domains.
To reduce stress on his elbow, he lowered his pitching angle and tried other methods. In the 2025 season, he notched 5 wins and 5 losses with an ERA of 5.38 in 15 starts.