The San Diego Padres kicked off spring training with high hopes, primarily reliant on the performance of seasoned pitcher Yu Darvish.
Darvish, a five-time All-Star, stood alongside Joe Musgrove as the only players on the Padres’ pitching staff with All-Star experience. When Darvish faced a setback with a groin strain in May, concerns grew about the team’s prospects. This worry was intensified when he was placed on the restricted list for undisclosed personal reasons.
As of July 6, Darvish hadn’t been paid since his listing, but on Friday, the Padres announced his return to the squad in San Diego. He will be placed on the 15-day injured list, a strategic move that clears the path for him to return to the active roster in September.
Despite Darvish’s absence, the Padres have managed to stay competitive, sitting 4.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West. If the season concluded today, they’d secure a Wild Card playoff spot.
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Before his injury, Darvish boasted a record of 4-3 and a commendable 3.20 ERA over 11 starts. Across his 12-season MLB career with the Padres, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs, he holds a career record of 107-88 with a 3.58 ERA in 277 starts. He ranks second among Japanese-born pitchers in MLB for games started, wins, and innings pitched, trailing only Padres advisor Hideo Nomo.
A crucial question now is what role Darvish will play in the latter part of the 2024 season.
Given his lengthy hiatus, it’s plausible that Darvish might require a couple of minor league rehab starts before hitting the big leagues again. Padres manager Mike Shildt shared that Darvish has been throwing during his absence, but it’s uncertain if he maintained his typical intensity and speed.
With Matt Waldron optioned to Triple-A El Paso, the Padres currently have an open spot in their rotation, which Darvish is set to fill once his 15 days are up.
Meanwhile, the pitching rotation led by Dylan Cease and Michael King has stepped up in Darvish’s absence, especially with Musgrove returning from the injured list.
If Darvish can return to form and the team gels, the Padres could emerge as a formidable contender in the postseason.
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