The San Diego Padres were hopeful about bolstering their starting rotation when Yu Darvish began a rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on May 14. It marked his first appearance since spring training, and he seemed close to returning from the injured list to make his 2025 season debut.
However, Darvish’s comeback hit a snag. “The 38-year-old right-hander looked sharp and strong, throwing 51 pitches over four innings during the May 14 outing, but afterward he experienced elbow tightness and doesn’t feel ready for a Major League start,” reported Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune via Talking Friars on X.
Acee also noted, “He’s mostly concerned that he wouldn’t recover well enough between outings to make consistent starts and doesn’t want to risk weakening the Padres’ rotation.”
Padres could be without veteran ace Yu Darvish indefinitely
The news is certainly tough for the Padres, and things could get worse, as Darvish is set to undergo an examination soon to ensure his elbow remains structurally intact, according to Acee.
Just like that, the Padres have gone from the optimism of reintroducing a five-time All-Star into their rotation to facing the reality of Darvish being out for an indefinite period.
Darvish, now in his 13th MLB season, first encountered elbow issues during spring training, prompting the team to shut him down. He began the season on the injured list, while the Padres leaned on a rotation led by Dylan Cease, Michael King, and Nick Pivetta.
It seemed like Darvish was making real progress when he began a throwing program at the team’s facility in Arizona in early May. He was recovering well, culminating in a Triple-A rehab start.
Now, both Darvish and the Padres are once again dealing with uncertainty about his availability. Despite a tough division, San Diego has held its ground with a 28–21 record, trailing the NL West-leading Dodgers by three games as of Saturday.
But the team recently hit a rough patch, dropping six consecutive games after being swept by both the Mariners and the Blue Jays. On a brighter note, Pivetta delivered a strong outing against the Braves on Friday, giving up just one run over six innings to help break the losing streak.
Though the Padres still have a capable rotation, having Darvish back would be a major boost, especially considering the competitive nature of their division.
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