Yu Darvish To Make MLB Return Monday Against Diamondbacks

Yu Darvish, the 38-year-old right-hander from Japan, is set to return to the mound Monday for the Padres after a lengthy absence due to injury. Darvish began experiencing right elbow inflammation during spring training and was initially placed on the 15-day injured list on March 27, retroactive to March 24. As the issue lingered, the Padres transferred him to the 60-day IL to give him additional time to recover.

Darvish has not pitched in a major league game in 2025. The Padres and manager Mike Shildt have confirmed he’ll be activated to start against the Diamondbacks on July 8, albeit likely with a pitch limit.

In 2024, Darvish made 16 starts, posting a 3.31 ERA, 4.08 FIP, and a 9.1 K/9. For his career, he has started 282 games with a 3.59 ERA and over 1,900 strikeouts.

Darvish’s return gives a boost to the Padres' rotation. If healthy, he could play a pivotal role in the second half as San Diego looks to gain ground in the wild-card race.