Yu Darvish UCL Surgery: Out Entire 2026 Season

Devastating Blow: Yu Darvish to Miss Entire 2026 Season After Elbow Surgery

San Diego Padres ace Yu Darvish has confirmed devastating news for baseball fans: the veteran right-hander underwent successful UCL surgery last Wednesday and will miss the entire 2026 season. The procedure, performed by renowned surgeon Dr. Keith Meister, involved both an internal brace repair for his damaged ulnar collateral ligament and flexor tendon surgery. While not a full Tommy John reconstruction, the recovery timeline remains identical – a projected 12-15 months of rehabilitation.

Second Career-Defining Elbow Setback

This marks the second time Darvish has lost a full season to elbow issues. His first Tommy John surgery in 2014 sidelined him for all of 2015, interrupting his rise to stardom. Despite returning as an ace, Darvish battled persistent elbow soreness over the past decade, culminating in a 60-day IL stint this season after inflammation flared during Spring Training. His 2025 campaign – delayed until July 7 – saw him pitch through clear discomfort, posting a 5.38 ERA over 15 starts with career-worst strikeout (23%) and chase rates.

"Last Wednesday, I underwent elbow surgery performed by Dr. Meister... I will not be able to pitch in games during the 2026 season. I will work hard on my rehabilitation to be able to throw a ball comfortably again."
— Yu Darvish (translated from Japanese)

Padres Face Rotation Crisis

Darvish's absence creates a seismic hole in San Diego's pitching staff just as the offseason begins. The 36-year-old was entering the fourth year of his six-year, $108 million extension signed in February 2023. His departure compounds existing rotation uncertainty, as free agents Dylan Cease and Michael King have already departed. Only Nick Pivetta, Randy Vasquez, and returning Tommy John survivor Joe Musgrove (potentially on an innings limit) remain from last year's group.

President of Baseball Operations A.J. Preller now faces urgent decisions:

• Convert relievers Mason Miller or Adrián Morejón to starters
• Target low-cost free agents like Dustin May, Merrill Kelly, or Tyler Mahle
• Explore trades despite a depleted farm system

What's Next for Darvish?

With guaranteed salaries through 2028, Darvish will aim for a 2027 return – similar to Justin Verlander's remarkable comeback. However, at age 40, the odds of a successful second post-surgery career are daunting. His social media message expressed determination: "I will work hard on my rehabilitation to be able to throw a ball comfortably again."

Darvish's exit leaves the Padres scrambling to rebuild their rotation for a 2026 season where they'll compete against the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. As one fan noted, "This is more out of nowhere than an RKO. Padres offseason is off to a really bad start..."