Yu Darvish Undergoes UCL Surgery, to Miss the 2026 Season
Yu Darvish, a prominent right-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres, recently underwent UCL surgery. This procedure took place last Wednesday and involved repairing a damaged right ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and flexor tendon. The surgery utilized an internal brace technique rather than the traditional Tommy John surgery. As a result, Darvish will miss the entire 2026 MLB season for recovery.
Injury History and Performance Stats
This marks the second time Darvish will miss an entire season due to injury. He previously sat out all of 2015 following a Tommy John operation. Since that surgery, he has experienced recurring elbow issues, including a significant elbow inflammation that placed him on the 60-day injured list during the current season.
Diving into his 2026 season statistics, Darvish made his first appearance for the Padres on July 7. He struggled with a 5.38 ERA across 15 starts and 72 innings. Notably, his strikeout rate of 23% was the lowest of his 13-year MLB career. Despite a respectable walk rate of 6.4%, he allowed 14 home runs, revealing vulnerabilities when batters connected.
Aging and Future Prospects
At 39 years old, Darvish has logged a staggering 3,119 innings throughout his career, including time in both MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan. He will turn 40 by Opening Day 2027. Analysts are concerned about how this prolonged absence will impact his performance upon return, especially with the possibility of retirement looming.
Recent reports suggest that Darvish has faced speculation about his future in the league. Kevin Acee from the San Diego Union-Tribune noted that discussions about retirement have been circulating for over a year. While undergoing surgery could indicate Darvish’s commitment to continuing his career, any setbacks during recovery could lead to reconsiderations.
Contract Implications and Padres’ Rotation Outlook
Darvish signed a contract extension with the Padres in April 2023, which includes $43 million owed through 2026-2028. The $15 million salary for 2026 is effectively nullified by his injury. Should Darvish opt to retire, he would forfeit remaining salary, but a deferred buyout might emerge as a viable alternative to ensure he receives compensation over time.
With Darvish’s absence, the Padres face uncertainties in their pitching rotation. Currently, only two of the seven pitchers who started most games in 2025 remain: Nick Pivetta and Randy Vasquez. Several key pitchers have become free agents, while others like Stephen Kolek and Ryan Bergert have been traded. The upcoming season’s rotation is expected to include Pivetta, Vasquez, JP Sears, and Joe Musgrove, returning from his own Tommy John recovery.
San Diego was already targeting a new starter for the offseason. With Darvish’s recent surgery, their efforts to bolster the rotation are now more urgent.
