Here’s a gut-wrenching blow for San Diego Padres fans: Yu Darvish, the team’s veteran right-hander, will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) repair surgery with an internal brace. This latest setback not only casts doubt on Darvish’s future but also deepens the uncertainty surrounding the Padres’ already shaky starting rotation. But here’s where it gets controversial: at 39, with a history of elbow issues and a lengthy recovery ahead, could this be the beginning of the end for one of baseball’s most accomplished pitchers? Let’s dive in.
The procedure, performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Arlington, Texas, last week, comes after Darvish battled elbow discomfort throughout the 2025 season. Despite avoiding the more invasive ligament-replacement surgery, his recovery is projected to take 12 to 15 months—a daunting timeline for a pitcher who has openly contemplated retirement in recent years. Darvish’s 2025 campaign was marred by a career-worst 5.38 ERA in just 15 starts, raising questions about whether his body can withstand the rigors of MLB pitching much longer.
And this is the part most people miss: Darvish’s resilience and sacrifice for the team. During the 2024 season, he voluntarily went on the restricted list to address a private family matter, saving the Padres millions. Yet, his loyalty hasn’t shielded him from the physical toll of the game. In a heartfelt X post on Tuesday, Darvish revealed that Dr. Meister also repaired a torn flexor tendon in his elbow, vowing to work tirelessly on his rehab. But with three years left on his $108 million contract, will he ever return to his former glory?
The Padres’ rotation woes don’t end with Darvish. Dylan Cease and Michael King, two of their top starters, are now free agents, leaving a gaping hole in the lineup. While Joe Musgrove is expected to return in 2026 after Tommy John surgery, the rotation beyond him, Nick Pivetta, and Randy Vásquez looks alarmingly thin. As president of baseball operations A.J. Preller bluntly put it last month, ‘Starting pitching is a clear area of need.’
Darvish’s journey since joining the Padres in 2020 has been nothing short of remarkable. He’s made three Opening Day starts and cemented his legacy as the winningest Japanese-born pitcher in MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball history. Yet, his recent struggles force us to confront a harsh reality: even legends aren’t immune to Father Time. After 13 MLB seasons, 297 starts, 115 wins, and 2,075 strikeouts, is Darvish’s storied career winding down?
Here’s the controversial question: Should the Padres start planning for a future without Darvish, or is there still hope for one last comeback? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. One thing’s for sure—the 2026 season just got a lot more interesting, and not in the way Padres fans were hoping.
