Padres' Mike Shildt Announces Yu Darvish News on Saturday

Padres' Mike Shildt Announces Yu Darvish News on Saturday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Right-handed starting pitcher Yu Darvish has played twelve seasons in MLB, including four with his current team, the San Diego Padres.

Darvish made his major-league debut for the Texas Rangers in 2012 at age 25 after dominating Japan’s Pacific League for seven seasons, posting an ERA below 2.00 each year.

His dominance continued in the American League as he earned All-Star honors in each of his first three big-league seasons, led MLB in strikeouts in 2013, and finished second in Cy Young voting that season.

In 2017, Texas traded Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers, and that offseason he signed with the Chicago Cubs, where he spent three years before landing with San Diego.

Darvish has yet to pitch this year, as he opened his age-38 season on the 60-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. Placed on the IL in late March, the veteran right-hander was shut down from throwing.

Before Saturday’s series opener against the Rangers, manager Mike Shildt announced that Darvish threw a bullpen session today, would be ruled out for the series finale, and that a specific timetable for his return would be revealed tomorrow.

Yu Darvish threw a bullpen today and is ruled out for starting tomorrow, Shildt said. He added that they will announce a more specific plan for him tomorrow. No word yet on tomorrow’s starter. #Padres

— Annie Heilbrunn (@annieheilbrunn) July 5, 2025

Shildt later smiled and, per Kyle Glaser, said, “He’s getting close to coming to a stadium very near you.”

Darvish’s 2024 performance remains impressive: he posted a 3.31 ERA across 16 starts, going 7–3 with 78 strikeouts.

With Joe Musgrove out for the season due to a torn UCL and Michael King also on the injured list, San Diego will look to Darvish’s impending return for a major boost down the stretch. The Padres currently stand at 47–40, chasing the Dodgers atop the NL West.

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.