Padres' Yu Darvish out for 2026 season after elbow surgery

San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish will miss the 2026 season after undergoing elbow surgery last week to repair a torn flexor tendon and place an internal brace on his ulnar collateral ligament, the team announced Tuesday. Darvish, 39, said on social media that he will not be able to pitch in games during the 2026 season and that he will work on rehabilitation to "be able to throw a ball comfortably again."

Team doctors performed the procedure on Darvish's throwing arm, with surgeon Keith Meister listed as having carried out the operation. The recovery timeline for the internal brace and flexor tendon repair is expected to be 12 to 15 months, effectively sidelining Darvish through next season.

Darvish’s 2025 campaign was limited by elbow inflammation that delayed his debut until July 7. He made 15 starts, going 5-5 with a 5.38 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP and 68 strikeouts in 72 innings. He started the decisive Game 3 of San Diego’s National League wild-card series against the Chicago Cubs, allowing two runs on four hits in one-plus inning in the 3-1 loss.

The surgery revisits a history of elbow problems for Darvish. He underwent Tommy John surgery in March 2015, returned to the majors...