Oct 2, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) throws during the first inning against the Chicago Cubs during game three of the Wildcard round for the 2025 MLB playoffs at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
San Diego, California – San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow, the team announced Tuesday. The 39-year-old veteran also received an internal brace during the procedure, which was performed last week.
“I will be working hard on my rehab to be able to throw a ball comfortably again,” Darvish wrote in Japanese on social media. It’s a familiar road for him — the five-time All-Star had Tommy John surgery once before, in 2015, returning to the mound just over a year later.
Darvish’s latest setback is another blow to a Padres rotation already facing major turnover heading into next season. The right-hander went 5–5 with a 5.38 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 15 starts last year after missing the first three months with elbow inflammation. He made his final appearance in October’s Wild Card series against the Chicago Cubs, starting Game 3 but allowing two runs on four hits before being pulled in the second inning.
Now entering his age-40 season, Darvish has completed three years of the six-year, $108 million contract he signed with San Diego in 2023. The Padres acquired him from the Chicago Cubs ahead of the 2021 season, and he quickly became a steady veteran presence on a roster filled with turnover and youth. He led the American League in strikeouts in 2013 with the Rangers and the National League in wins during the shortened 2020 campaign with the Cubs.
The injury leaves San Diego’s pitching staff in flux. Dylan Cease, who joined the team in 2024, is now a free agent, and Michael King declined his option for 2026 earlier this week. That leaves Joe Musgrove, Nick Pivetta, and Randy Vásquez as the team’s only established starting options heading into spring training. Musgrove, who underwent Tommy John surgery himself last spring, is expected to return sometime next summer.
San Diego did add left-hander JP Sears and hard-throwing reliever Mason Miller at the trade deadline, and both could factor into next year’s rotation picture. Still, losing Darvish — one of the game’s most experienced and respected pitchers — creates a leadership void the Padres will have to fill internally.
Darvish’s absence will be felt not only on the mound but in the clubhouse. Since joining the Padres, he’s been regarded as a mentor for the team’s younger pitchers, helping refine mechanics and approaches between starts.
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the injury won’t keep Darvish away from baseball entirely. His oldest son, Shoei, has committed to play at UC San Diego next year — giving the elder Darvish something to cheer for as he begins another long, patient comeback.
