SAN DIEGO — Forty-eight days after being placed on indefinite leave, Yu Darvish returned to a clubhouse that welcomed him with enthusiastic smiles and long hugs. It will be a while before the veteran right-hander finally pitches for the San Diego Padres again, but Darvish has long been a popular player, in part because of what his teammates describe as his generosity. In July, he could have remained on the injured list and continued to receive what he was entitled to as he dealt with a private family matter. Instead, he opted for the restricted list, saving his team about $4 million.
“At that point, it was difficult for me to travel and be with the team like that,” Darvish said through interpreter Shingo Horie. “Plus, I thought it would be wrong to be on the injured list during that time and also be drawing a salary.”
The Padres reinstated Darvish on Friday, and he promptly returned to Petco Park, put on his full uniform and threw a bullpen session. It was his first pitch from the mound since throwing the second of two rounds of live batting practice at a San Diego-area high school last week. He is officially back on the 15-day injured list and is still in rehab mode, although it has not been determined when he will begin any actual rehab. He has not pitched in a major league game since late May.
But for weeks, the Padres weren’t sure if Darvish would even return this season. President of baseball operations AJ Preller stayed in regular contact with Darvish, who continued to pitch and work out on his own, but the check-ins usually didn’t involve talking about baseball. Then Preller heard from Darvish on Wednesday.
“Two days ago I mentioned to AJ that I was coming back,” said Darvish, who did not want to make the family matter that prompted his retirement public. “I feel like AJ has been more of a friend to me during this time than a manager-player type of relationship. He’s been very supportive and very understanding and compassionate during these two months, and I really appreciate that.”
“Of course it was a difficult decision to leave. Sometimes it can get complicated. But it’s really nice to be back on the field, in front of the fans, with the teammates and all that. So all in all it’s a great day.”
We have made the following changes to the squad: pic.twitter.com/Fa6WW0uRCb
– San Diego Padres (@Padres) 23 August 2024
Darvish reported feeling encouraged by his bullpen session, in which he threw 27 pitches. Still, preparing for the real game will be a process. Darvish missed time earlier this season with a groin strain and subsequent elbow inflammation, adding to his long injury history. He turned 38 last week. And the Padres, according to manager Mike Shildt, were not “privy” to the exact nature of his recent live batting practice sessions; Darvish said Friday that he managed as many as 45 pitches in two simulated innings.
So Darvish and the Padres will wait to see how he recovers from his last bullpen before deciding on the next step. That could be a different bullpen, live batting practice or discussion of a rehab assignment.
In any case, at least Darvish is back on the team.
“It’s important,” Shildt said. “He still has a process to go through before he’s back on the mound for us. But having him available to us means he’s a rightfully respected and admired teammate. I have a lot of admiration for Yu, personally and professionally. So to have someone with his success and who Darvish is as a person back in our clubhouse is only a positive.”
Darvish’s return to the major league mound could come at an opportune time for the championship-contending Padres. San Diego sent struggling right-hander Matt Waldron to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday to recover physically. Like Waldron, fellow starter Michael King has also surpassed his previous career high in major league innings pitched.
And Darvish has been very effective when he pitched this season, making his third Opening Day start in his Padres career. He posted a 3.20 ERA in 11 starts. He has also made 11 postseason starts in his career, far more than any other member of the roster.
In recent weeks, the Padres have found ways to be successful without him, winning 23 of 37 games when Darvish was on the restricted list. Darvish said Friday he watched every game.
“The team is doing so well that you think twice about whether it’s the right thing to come back,” joked Darvish.
Later he spoke in a more serious tone.
“It’s basically my decision,” Darvish said. “I just wanted to see where I was at and then I felt I was ready to come back. That’s why I’m coming back.”
Tatis continues with full hitting training
Another key player hoping to return sometime in September made another notable move on Friday.
A day after running sprints for the first time since being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right femur, right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. took batting practice on the field at Petco Park. If he continues to make progress, Tatis could be back against a real pitcher next week.
The sweet sound of the ball hitting Fernando Tatis Jr.’s bat! 🤩🤩 pic.twitter.com/4uKQDidO8s
— 97.3 The Fan (@973TheFanSD) 23 August 2024
“I really don’t have any specific dates (for a return from the injured list),” Tatis said. “I think that’s more of a discussion between the training staff, the manager, myself and AJ. But I mean, I’m definitely playing baseball next month. That’s the way it looks.”
Tatis said he has been swinging without restrictions and expects to begin defensive work in right field soon. His leg likely won’t be fully healed when he returns, but the Padres, who allowed him to increase his baseball activities this week, were confident that healing was adequate over a long enough period of time.
“We want the best for me long-term and what that’s going to look like, but I feel like the doctors have had great conversations,” Tatis said. “I have (a lot of) confidence in my leg and we’re going to move forward step by step.”
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(Photo: Brett Davis / USA Today)
