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{{short description|Japanese baseball pitcher (born 1986)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name        = Yu Darvish
|image       = Yu Darvish pitching, Oct 07 2022 (2) (cropped).jpg
|image_size  = 280px
|caption     = Darvish with the [[San Diego Padres]] in 2022
|team        = San Diego Padres
|number      = 11
|position    = [[Pitcher]]
|birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1986|8|16}}
|birth_place = [[Habikino]], Osaka, Japan
|bats        = Right
|throws      = Right
|debutleague = NPB
|debutdate   = June 15
|debutyear   = 2005
|debutteam   = Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters
|debut2league= MLB
|debut2date  = April 9
|debut2year  = 2012
|debut2team  = Texas Rangers
|statleague  = NPB
|statyear    = 2011 season
|stat1label  = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
|stat1value  = 93–38
|stat2label  = [[Earned run average]]
|stat2value  = 1.99
|stat3label  = [[Strikeout]]s
|stat3value  = 1,250
|stat2year   = 2024 season
|stat2league = MLB
|stat21label = Win–loss record
|stat21value = 110–88
|stat22label = Earned run average
|stat22value = 3.58
|stat23label = Strikeouts
|stat23value = 2,007
|teams       =
*[[Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters]] ({{npby|2005}}–{{npby|2011}})
*[[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] ({{mlby|2012}}–{{mlby|2017}})
*[[Los Angeles Dodgers]] ({{mlby|2017}})
*[[Chicago Cubs]] ({{mlby|2018}}–{{mlby|2020}})
*[[San Diego Padres]] ({{mlby|2021}}–present)
|awards     =
;NPB
*2× [[Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|Pacific League MVP]] (2007, 2009)
*[[Eiji Sawamura Award]] ({{npby|2007}})
*[[Japan Series|Japan Series champion]] [[2006 Japan Series|(2006)]]
*3× Pacific League strikeout title (2007, 2010, 2011)
*2× Pacific League ERA title (2009, 2010)
*2× Pacific League [[Best Nine Award]] (2007, 2009)
*2× Pacific League [[Mitsui Golden Glove Award]] (2007, 2008)
*2006 [[Asia Series]] MVP
*5× [[Nippon Professional Baseball All-Star Game|NPB All-Star]] (2007–2011)
*[[2007 Pacific League Climax Series|2007 PLCS Second Stage MVP]]
;MLB
*5× [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] ([[2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2012]]–[[2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2014]], [[2017 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2017]], [[2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2021]])
*[[All-MLB Team|All-MLB First Team]] (2020)
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual wins leaders|NL wins leader]] (2020)
*[[List of Major League Baseball annual strikeout leaders|AL strikeout leader]] (2013)
|medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry|{{flagu|Japan}} }}
{{MedalSport|Men's Baseball}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Baseball Classic]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2009 World Baseball Classic|2009 Los Angeles]]|[[Japan national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2023 World Baseball Classic|2023 Miami]]|[[Japan national baseball team|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asian Baseball Championship]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2007 Asian Baseball Championship|2007 Taichung]]|[[Japan national baseball team|Team]]}}
}}
{{Nihongo|'''Farid Yu Darvish Sefat'''|ダルビッシュ・セファット・ファリード・有|Darubisshu Sefatto Farīdo Yū|born August 16, 1986}}, more commonly known as '''Yu Darvish''' (ダルビッシュ 有), is a Japanese professional [[baseball]] [[pitcher]] for the [[San Diego Padres]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]], [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], and [[Chicago Cubs]], and in [[Nippon Professional Baseball]] for the [[Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters]]. He also pitched for [[Japan national baseball team|Japan]] in several international tournaments, including the [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Olympics]], [[2009 World Baseball Classic]] (WBC) and 2023 WBC.

Darvish was considered by many to be the best pitcher in Japan prior to his arrival in MLB in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Durrett |first=Richard |date=2011-12-20 |title=Rangers win rights to Japanese pitcher Darvish |url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/7371152/texas-rangers-acquire-rights-negotiate-japan-yu-darvish |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Yu Darvish, Japan's Pitching Phenom, Wants to Play Major League Baseball |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2011/12/yu-darvish-japans-pitching-phenom-wants-to-play-major-league-baseball/249677/ |access-date=September 8, 2021 |work=The Atlantic |date=December 8, 2011}}</ref> In his first MLB season, Darvish finished third in the [[American League]] (AL) [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year]] balloting. The next season, he finished second in the AL [[Cy Young Award]] vote, led MLB in [[strikeout]]s with 277, and finishing fourth in the AL in [[earned run average]] (ERA) at 2.83. He pitched in the [[2017 World Series]] for the Dodgers, where his underwhelming performance was later attributed to being a victim of the [[Houston Astros sign stealing scandal]]. He signed a six-year contract with the Cubs before the 2018 season and was then traded to the Padres before the 2021 season. He was named an All-Star in 2021. He signed a six-year extension with San Diego in 2023. 

Darvish has the most strikeouts by a Japanese-born pitcher in MLB history and was the first Japanese pitcher to 2,000 MLB strikeouts. He has set several career records for striking out batters in relatively few innings.

==Early life==
Darvish was born {{Nihongo|'''Farid Yu Darvish Sefat'''|ダルビッシュ・セファット・ファリード・有}} in [[Habikino]], Osaka, to a Japanese mother, Ikuyo, and Iranian father, Farsad Darvish Sefat.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asahi.com/sports/senbatsu2003/person/03.html |title=''An to Darvish'' |access-date=November 29, 2005 |publisher=Asahi Shimbun |language=ja |trans-title=An and Darvish |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051129144746/http://www.asahi.com/sports/senbatsu2003/person/03.html |archive-date=November 29, 2005 }}</ref> In 1977, Darvish’s father left Iran to attend [[Berkshire School]] in [[Berkshire County, Massachusetts]], where he played soccer and raced competitive [[motocross]].<ref name="url10 things you may not know about ex-Ranger Yu Darvish, like being able to throw 82 mph left-handed">{{cite web |date=October 26, 2017 |title=10 things you may not know about ex-Ranger Yu Darvish, like being able to throw 82 mph left-handed |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/rangers/2017/10/26/10-things-you-may-not-know-about-ex-ranger-yu-darvish-like-being-able-to-throw-82-mph-left-handed/ |website=[[Dallas Morning News]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Berkshire Bulletin Fall 2008|url=https://issuu.com/berkshirealumni/docs/summer_fall08bulletin/125|access-date=March 30, 2021|website=Issuu|date=November 23, 2008 |language=en}}</ref> Sefat later played soccer at [[Florida State University]] and met Ikuyo at [[Eckerd College]].<ref>{{cite web |date=December 2006 |title=Iranian pitcher wins Series-in Japan |url=http://www.pezhvak.com/Pezhvakm/186/pezh186b_42.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715071543/http://www.pezhvak.com/Pezhvakm/186/pezh186b_42.pdf |archive-date=July 15, 2011 |access-date=November 4, 2010 |work=Pezhvak Newspaper}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=October 15, 2002 |title=Iranian-Japanese High Schooler Darwish Making Impression |url=http://baseballguru.com/ggarland/analysisggarlandpreviousoctober15.html |access-date=November 4, 2010 |publisher=The Baseball Guru}}</ref><ref name="gq">{{cite web |last=Stebbins |first=Tim |date=April 3, 2020 |title=Yu Darvish's GQ magazine history only makes Cubs' ace more likable |url=https://www.nbcsportschicago.com/mlb/chicago-cubs/yu-darvishs-gq-magazine-history-only-makes-cubs-ace-more-likable/312980/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240502050716/https://www.nbcsportschicago.com/mlb/chicago-cubs/yu-darvishs-gq-magazine-history-only-makes-cubs-ace-more-likable/312980/ |archive-date=2024-05-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-who-yu-darvish-s-parents-farsad-ikuyo-family-life-padres-ace-explored | title=Who are Yu Darvish's parents, Farsad and Ikuyo? Family life of Padres ace explored | date=June 10, 2023 }}</ref> 

Darvish began playing baseball in second grade and led his team to the quarterfinals of the national [[Single-elimination tournament|tournament]] as well as a [[Bronze medal|third-place finish]] in the international tournament as a member of the Habikino Boys. He was [[Scout (sport)|scouted]] by over 50 high schools while in [[Middle school|junior high]]. He opted to attend {{ill|Tohoku High School||東北高等学校}} in Northern [[Sendai]], a baseball powerhouse that produced players such as former [[Seattle Mariners]] and [[Yokohama BayStars]] [[Closer (baseball)|closer]] [[Kazuhiro Sasaki]] and former BayStars and [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] [[relief pitcher|reliever]] [[Takashi Saito (baseball)|Takashi Saito]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2011/07/16/sports/20110716tohoku_ss.html | title=The Game Goes on | work=The New York Times | date=July 15, 2011 }}</ref>

==High school career==
Darvish became Tohoku's ace pitcher by the fall of his first year (the equivalent of tenth grade in the United States) and led his team to four straight appearances in [[High school baseball in Japan|national tournaments]] held at [[Koshien Stadium]] in his junior and senior years, twice in the [[National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament]] held in the spring and twice in the [[National High School Baseball Championship]] in the summer.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

Darvish led his team to the [[Final (competition)|finals]] of the 85th National High School Baseball Championship in the summer of 2003 but gave up four [[Run (baseball)|runs]] to Joso Gakuin High School, the [[Ibaraki Prefecture|Ibaraki]] champions, in a [[complete game]] [[Loss (baseball)|loss]].{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

Darvish attracted national attention when he pitched a [[no-hitter]] against [[Kumamoto, Kumamoto|Kumamoto]] Technical High School in the first round of the 76th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament as a senior on March 26, 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20040327a2.html|title=Tohoku High's Darvish hurls no-hitter at Koshien|work=The Japan Times|date=March 27, 2004|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> The team lost in the quarter-finals despite stellar outings by Darvish and [[Sidearm (baseball)|sidearm]]er Kenji Makabe (currently with [[Honda|Honda Motor Company's]] industrial league team). Darvish pitched 12 games and put up a 7–3 [[Win–loss record (pitching)|record]] with 87 [[strikeout]]s in 92 [[innings pitched]] and a 1.47 [[Earned run average|ERA]] in his four national tournament appearances, and posted a 1.10 ERA for his high school career, striking out 375 in {{frac|332|1|3}} innings (67 appearances).{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

===2004 draft===
Darvish was scouted by [[Major League Baseball|Major League]] teams, such as the [[Los Angeles Angels#Franchise history|Anaheim Angels]] and [[Atlanta Braves]], even while in junior high. As he entered his senior year of high school, the [[Los Angeles Angels]], [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], and [[New York Mets]] had expressed interest in signing him,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://baseballguru.com/archives/entries/00000671.htm|title=Angels, Mets Seeking Some Iranian-Japanese Takeaway|publisher=The Baseball Guru|date=January 19, 2004|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> but Darvish's intent remained to play for a Japanese professional team instead.

Darvish was considered one of the best high school pitchers in the 2004 NPB [[Draft (sports)|amateur draft]] along with Yokohama Senior High School right-hander [[Hideaki Wakui]] (later picked by the [[Saitama Seibu Lions#Seibu Lions (1979–2007)|Seibu Lions]]) and [[Akita, Akita|Akita]] Municipal Akita [[Commercial high school (Japan)|Commercial High School]] right-hander Tsuyoshi Sato ([[Hiroshima Toyo Carp]]). While the Fighters, Carp, [[Chunichi Dragons]], [[Fukuoka Daiei Hawks]], and [[Orix BlueWave]] all considered selecting Darvish with their first-round pick in the final months, the Fighters were one of the few teams that chose not to forgo the first round in exchange for signing a college or industrial league player prior to the draft. This enabled them to land Darvish with their first-round pick in November 17 draft,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20041118j1.html|title=Nippon Ham picks 18-year-old Darvish|work=The Japan Times|date=November 18, 2004|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> signing him to a base salary of {{currency|15 million|JPY}}, a [[signing bonus]] of {{currency|100 million|JPY|linked=no}}, and additional performance-based incentives (the equivalent of what a first-round college or industrial league player would normally receive) on December 17.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

==Professional career==

===Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2005–2011)===

====2005 season====
Darvish received further publicity when he was caught smoking in a [[pachinko]] parlor on an off-day during his first spring training in {{npby|2005}}, despite not being old enough to legally smoke nor to gamble at the time. The incident prompted his high school to suspend him, and the Fighters to place him under probation for an indefinite period and order him to participate in community service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20050222j2.html|title=Darvish faces school suspension over pachinko puffs|work=The Japan Times|date=February 22, 2005|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref>

Darvish made his professional debut later that season, taking the mound in an interleague game against the Carp on June 15. He pitched 8 scoreless innings before giving up back-to-back solo [[home run]]s in the ninth. He was then removed from the game but earned the [[Win (baseball)|win]], becoming the 12th pitcher in NPB history to earn a win in one's professional debut as a [[rookie]] straight out of high school.<ref>{{cite web |date=June 16, 2005 |title=Darvish earns win in the first pro start as Fighters down Carp |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2005/06/16/sports/darvish-earns-win-in-first-pro-start-as-fighters-down-carp/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115084205/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2005/06/16/sports/darvish-earns-win-in-first-pro-start-as-fighters-down-carp/ |archive-date=2016-01-15 |access-date=November 4, 2010 |work=The Japan Times}}</ref> He recorded his first complete game win on August 6 against the Lions and his first complete game [[Shutout#Baseball|shutout]] on September 18, holding the [[Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles]] to just two [[Hit (baseball)|hits]] and becoming the 14th pitcher in NPB history to throw a complete-game shutout as a rookie out of high school. He finished the season with a 5–5 record in 14 starts, throwing {{frac|94|1|3}} innings with an ERA of 3.53.

====2006 season====
Darvish had a breakout year in {{npby|2006}}, compiling a 12–5 record with 115 strikeouts and a 2.89 ERA.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120904195201/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/sports/baseball/20classic.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=darvish&st=cse "New Stage for Japan's Rising Pitching Star"] ''The New York Times''</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20061013j2.html|title=Young Nippon Ham hurler Darvish tipped to be top for a long time|work=The Japan Times|date=October 13, 2006|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> He went 10–0 after May 30, playing a leading role in the Fighters' first [[Pacific League]] title since {{npby|1981}} (his win streak lasted until April 14 of the following season, when it reached 12 consecutive wins) and contributing to their first championship since {{npby|1961}} in the [[2006 Japan Series|Japan Series]] over the Dragons. Darvish was chosen to take the hill for the first game of each of the Pacific League [[playoffs]], [[Japan Series]], and the [[Konami Cup Asia Series 2006|2006 Asia Series]], played between the champions of Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea at the end of the season. Darvish, then 20 years old, became the first pitcher to start a Japan Series game since 1987 while under the age of 21, and the fifth pitcher in NPB history to ''win'' a Japan Series game at that age with his win in game 5 of the series. He also won the [[Asia Series]] [[Most Valuable Player]] award.{{citation needed|date=March 2019}}

====2007 season====
[[File:Darvish 20070829 new.png|thumb|Darvish pitching for the [[Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters|Nippon-Ham Fighters]] in {{Npby|2007}}]]
Darvish was named the Fighters' starter for their {{npby|2007}} season opener, becoming the fourth pitcher in franchise history (including the Fighters' years as the [[Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters#Team history|Senators and Flyers]]) to start a season opener within three years of graduating high school (the other three pitchers all started season openers as rookies). He struck out 14 over nine innings in a [[Win–loss record (pitching)|no-decision]] in his second start against the Lions on March 30 (the game ended a 2–2 [[Tie (draw)|tie]] in [[Extra innings#Asia|extra innings]]) and 14 again in a complete game win in his next start against the [[Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks]] on April 7, becoming the second pitcher in Japanese professional baseball history to strike out 14 or more batters in two consecutive starts.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Darvish went on to post a 15–5 record with a 1.82 ERA (falling just 0.003 points short of the league lead, which went to [[Chiba Lotte Marines]] [[Left-handedness|left-hander]] [[Yoshihisa Naruse]]) for the year, limiting hitters to a .174 [[batting average against]] and leading the league with 210 strikeouts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/cgi-bin/sb20071018j1.html|title=Darvish, Naruse square off in marquee Game 5 matchup|work=The Japan Times|date=October 18, 2007|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> He led the Fighters to their second consecutive league title, winning both of his starts in the second round of the [[2007 Nippon Professional Baseball season#Climax Series|Climax Series]] (playoffs) against the Marines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20071014j1.html|title=Darvish fires Fighters to win|work=The Japan Times|date=October 14, 2007|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/sb20071019j1.html|title=Fighters move to Japan Series|work=The Japan Times|date=October 19, 2007|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref>

Darvish took the mound in game 1 of the [[2007 Japan Series|Japan Series]] that followed on October 27 against the Dragons for the second straight year, pitching a 13-strikeout, complete game win in an intense [[pitchers' duel]] with then-Dragons ace [[Kenshin Kawakami]] and becoming the third pitcher in Japan Series history to strike out 13 or more batters in a single game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20071028j1.html|title=Darvish, Seguignol key Hammies' win|work=The Japan Times|date=October 28, 2007|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> With the Fighters down 3–1 and facing elimination, Darvish started game 5 on November 1 and held the Dragons to one run over seven innings while striking out 11. However, the Fighters had no answer for opposing right-hander [[Daisuke Yamai]] and closer [[Hitoki Iwase]], failing to get a single man [[Becoming a runner|on base]] and allowing the first [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]] in Japan Series history. (However, the game was not an official perfect game according to NPB regulations, which state that a perfect game must be thrown by a single pitcher.) The Dragons won the game 1–0, charging Darvish with the loss and becoming Japan Series champions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20071102j1.html|title=Dragons clinch Japan Series|work=The Japan Times|date=November 2, 2007|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> The 24 strikeouts that Darvish totaled in his two starts were the second-highest by any single pitcher in series history (and the highest in a series that went only five games).{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Darvish was presented with both his first career [[Eiji Sawamura Award]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20071030j2.html|title=Darvish receives prestigious accolade|work=The Japan Times|date=October 30, 2007|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> (being the first to meet or exceed guidelines for the award in all seven categories in 14 years) and his first [[Most Valuable Player]] award following the season. He also won the Golden Glove and [[Best Nine Award|Best Nine]] awards that year.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

Darvish made his [[national team]] debut in the [[2007 Asian Baseball Championship]] (which also functioned as the Asian qualifying tournament for the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]]) against [[Chinese Taipei baseball team|Chinese Taipei]] on December 3, 2007. Because Japanese law requires that a person holding [[Multiple citizenships|dual citizenship]] choose a single nationality before their twenty-second birthday, Darvish had chosen to retain his Japanese citizenship so that he could play for the national team in the Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217014405/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2007/08/20/sports/darvish-decides-on-nationality/#.VsPQa3bP1qY|archive-date=February 17, 2016|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20070820j3.html|title=Darvish decides on nationality |work=The Japan Times|date=August 20, 2007|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref>

On December 22, Darvish re-signed with the Nippon-Ham Fighters for {{currency|200 million|JPY|linked=no}} plus payment at piece rates, up {{currency|128 million|JPY|linked=no}} from 2006. At 21 years old, Darvish became the youngest player in Japanese baseball history to reach the {{currency|200 million|JPY|linked=no}} mark.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

====2008 season====
In {{npby|2008}}, Darvish was named the Fighters' starter in the season opener for the second consecutive year, pitching a complete game [[Shutouts in baseball|shutout]] in that very game (the Fighters won 1–0). Even as his team struggled in the opening months of the season, Darvish continued to rack up wins at a pace that exceeded his own in the previous season. As the year went on, he and Eagles ace [[Hisashi Iwakuma]] emerged as the league leaders in both wins and ERA. On April 10, in their only match-up of the season, neither gave up a single [[Hit (baseball)|hit]] through the first five innings. Iwakuma [[Glossary of baseball (G)#go the distance|went the distance]], throwing just 100 [[Pitch (baseball)|pitches]] and giving up just one run on three hits; yet Darvish topped this, throwing another complete-game shutout on three hits and just 95 pitches in one of the best pitchers' duels of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20080411j1.html|title=Darvish outshines Iwakuma|work=The Japan Times|date=April 11, 2008|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref>

While he did not pitch the way he had hoped in the Olympics, Darvish promptly put up a perfect 5–0 record with a 1.29 ERA and two complete games in the five starts upon returning to the Fighters, leading them to a playoff berth in a heated race against the Marines. While the Fighters failed to make the Japan Series, Darvish took the mound in two playoff games, giving up one run in a complete game win in one and pitching a complete-game shutout in another. Although he lost out to Iwakuma (who put up an astonishing 21–4 record) in wins, he finished second in all three [[Major League Baseball Triple Crown|Triple Crown]] categories, finishing the season with a 16–4 record, 1.88 ERA<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20081011n1.html|title=Buffs, Fighters ready for PL Climax Series showdown|work=The Japan Times|date=October 11, 2008|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> and 208 strikeouts. (It was his second straight year putting up an ERA under 2.00, throwing more than 200 innings, and striking out over 200 hitters despite missing time due to the Olympics.) Regardless, the Sawamura Award was presented to Iwakuma, and Darvish became just the second pitcher to clear the guidelines in all seven categories to ''not'' win the award ([[Suguru Egawa]] was the first in 1982).

Darvish took the mound in game 1 of the first round of the [[2008 Nippon Professional Baseball season#Climax Series 1st Stage 2|Climax Series]] against the [[Orix Buffaloes]] on October 11, allowing nine hits but holding the team to one run while striking out 14 in a 4–1 complete game win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20081012j2.html|title=Resilient Darvish shrugs off problems to justify top billing for Fighters|work=The Japan Times|date=October 12, 2008|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> He started game 2 of the second round against the [[Saitama Seibu Lions]] on October 18 and pitched a complete-game shutout in a 5–0 win,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20081019j2.html|title=Versatile Darvish powers Fighters|work=The Japan Times|date=October 19, 2008|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> but the Fighters lost the series 4–2 and fell short of their third straight appearance in the Japan Series.

On December 1, Darvish re-signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters for {{currency|270 million|JPY|linked=no}} plus payment at piece rates, up {{currency|70 million|JPY|linked=no}} from 2007.

====2009 season====
Darvish started the Fighters' season opener for the third straight year in {{npby|2009}}, taking the mound against the Eagles on April 3 in a matchup with the reigning Sawamura Award winner and [[World Baseball Classic]] teammate Hisashi Iwakuma. Darvish gave up three runs in the first inning but went the distance, allowing no runs from the second inning onward in a 121-pitch, complete-game loss (Iwakuma held the Fighters to one run over six innings and was credited with the win).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20090404j1.html|title=Seabol, Carp beat Giants in opener|work=The Japan Times|date=April 4, 2009|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> On April 24, he struck out six straight and 11 overall en route to a four-hit, complete-game shutout (his first of the season) over the Buffaloes,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20090425j1.html|title=Clutch hitting ignites Dragons to win over Giants|work=The Japan Times|date=April 25, 2009|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> following it up by holding the Lions to one run and striking out 11 over nine innings in a no-decision in a match-up with fellow 22-year-old ace Hideaki Wakui on May 1 (the Fighters lost 2–1 in extra innings).

On August 22, Darvish was taken of the active roster for the first time in his career due to injury. The Fighters classified it as "shoulder fatigue", and the deactivation came after a career-worst start against the [[Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks]], in which he went eight innings, but gave up six earned runs in a losing effort. He was reactivated on September 13, but in his second start back a week later against the [[Orix Buffaloes]], Darvish gave up a career-high seven walks in five innings, and two runs. Three days later he was deactivated again due to discomfort in his shoulder and a sore back.

Darvish was activated again just in time for the 2009 Japan Series against the [[Central League]] champion [[Yomiuri Giants]], and he pitched game 2 on November 1. He went six innings, giving up two runs on seven hits, and also striking out 7 Giants. He became the winning pitcher, and the team won 4–2. The Yomiuri Giants would go on and win the championship series 4 games to 1. After the Japan Series, It was revealed that Yu had a stress fracture of the right-hand forefinger. Darvish said he first experienced pain after practice on October 28 but kept it to himself. Also, he was unable to fully use the lower part of his body due to hip pains.

Darvish was presented with his second [[Most Valuable Player]] and [[Best Nine Award|Best Nine]] awards at the end of the season. He became the third player to have won 2 MVP awards in their first five years in the NPB, joining [[Kazuhisa Inao]] and [[Ichiro Suzuki]]. However, he lost out on his second Sawamura Award to Saitama Seibu Lions ace [[Hideaki Wakui]].

On December 9, Darvish re-signed with the Nippon-Ham Fighters for {{currency|330 million|JPY|linked=no}}, up {{currency|60 million|JPY|linked=no}} from 2009. At 23, Darvish became the youngest player in Japanese baseball history to reach the {{currency|300 million|JPY|linked=no}} mark, along with being the highest-paid pitcher in the [[Pacific League]] presently.<ref>{{cite web |date=10 December 2009 |title=Darvish youngest to reach Y300 million in salary |url=https://japantoday.com/category/sports/darvish-youngest-to-reach-y300-million-in-salary |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129045734/https://japantoday.com/category/sports/darvish-youngest-to-reach-y300-million-in-salary |archive-date=2023-11-29 |access-date=November 4, 2010 |website=JapanToday.com |publisher=}}</ref>

====2010 season====
Darvish's 2010 season was another strong individual performance, but he struggled to win as many games due to the Fighters' troubles. The Fighters finished 74–67,<ref>{{cite web|title=2010 Japan Pacific League|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=fe74c508|publisher=BaseballReference.com|access-date=December 9, 2011}}</ref> but in fourth place. His opening-day loss was reflective of his 2010 season; he pitched well but the team struggled. He began the 2010 season losing to the [[Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks]] on March 20. Darvish allowed two early unearned runs on his way to a complete game loss (5 runs allowed, 3 earned runs) striking out 13.<ref>{{cite news|last=Allen|first=Jim|title=Opening with a roar; Big hits help Lions' Wakui outduel Marines' Naruse to start PL season on winning note|newspaper=The Daily Yomiuri|date=March 21, 2010}}<!--|access-date=9 December 2011--></ref> The Fighters began the season with a 5–14–1 stretch that put them with their worst winning percentage in five years.<ref name="Gibson 20">{{cite news |last=Gibson |first=John |url=http://japanesebaseball.com/writers/display.gsp?id=31109 |title=Punchless Fighters have mound of troubles |newspaper=The Daily Yomiuri |date=April 17, 2010 |page=20 |access-date=October 12, 2013}}</ref> They struggled in all phases of play, but Darvish continued to pitch well. Even at this low point, he was leading the league in strikeouts even as the rest of the rotation was 3–9.<ref name="Gibson 20"/> Darvish struck out at least 10 hitters in each of his first five starts.<ref name="NPB Tracker/data: Yu Darvish">{{cite web|title=NPB Tracker / data: Yu Darvish |url=http://www.npbtracker.com/data/player.php?p_id=242|access-date=December 9, 2011}}</ref>

Darvish's 2010 season also was noticeable because speculation increased about his potential move (or [[Posting system|posting]]) to [[Major League Baseball]]. Darvish was interviewed by [[The Associated Press]] where he announced his plans to review his options at the end of the season. He noted, "Right now, I'm just focused on helping my team win this season ... Once the season is over, I'll consider my future."<ref name="Armstrong">{{cite news |url=http://www.wwltv.com/sports/national/95936164.html |last=Armstrong |first=Jim |title=Darvish values attention from major leagues |newspaper=Associated Press Worldstream |date=June 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=October 12, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014174550/http://www.wwltv.com/sports/national/95936164.html |archive-date=October 14, 2013}}</ref> The Associated Press noted that both his exposure to international play during the [[2009 World Baseball Classic]] and recurring injuries both led him to consider leaving Japan. In addition to back problems he also missed a start in June with a sore right knee.<ref name="Armstrong"/>

Despite the injuries and potential distractions, Darvish pitched well down the stretch. His last three starts were all complete games and he struck out 35 hitters in those 27 innings.<ref name="NPB Tracker/data: Yu Darvish" /> Darvish finished the season with only a 12–8 record, but with a 1.78 ERA.<ref>{{cite web|title=2010 Japan Pacific League Pitching Leaders|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=62afd714|publisher=BaseballReference.com|access-date=December 9, 2011}}</ref> He led the league with 10 complete games, 222 strikeouts, and a 1.01 [[Walks plus hits per inning pitched|WHIP]]. This was Darvish's fourth consecutive sub-2.00 ERA.

On October 18, 2010, Darvish posted on his blog that he would be returning to the Fighters for the 2011 season.<ref>{{cite news|last=White|first=Paul|title=Japan's top pitching prospect Yu Darvish won't play in Majors in 2011|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2010/10/japans-top-pitching-prospect-yu-Darvish-wont-play-in-majors-in-2011/1|access-date=December 9, 2011|newspaper=USA Today|date=October 19, 2010}}</ref>

====2011 season====
On January 6, 2011, Darvish agreed to a contract for the 2011 season that would make him the highest-paid player in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Patrick|title=Darvish Signs for 2011|url=http://www.npbtracker.com/2011/01/darvish-signs-for-2011/|publisher=NPB Tracker|date=January 6, 2011}}</ref> His salary was {{currency|500 million|JPY|linked=no}} (which on January 6 converted to {{currency|6,065,490|USD}}).<ref>{{cite web|title=OANDA Currency Converter|url=http://www.oanda.com/currency/converter/|access-date=December 8, 2011}}</ref>

The [[2011 Nippon Professional Baseball season]] was delayed by the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|Tohoku earthquake]]. Controversy emerged over when baseball should resume. Commissioner Ryozo Kato was criticized for comparing the resumption to the return of Major League Baseball ten days after the [[September 11 attacks]]. Darvish was among the players who felt that it was not appropriate to quickly return to baseball, saying, "I am a baseball player and a human being as well. I cannot think about baseball alone as I normally do."<ref>{{cite news|title=Japan weighs sport's healing power|newspaper=The Toronto Star|date=March 25, 2011|page=S3}}</ref> Darvish took part in efforts to raise funds for the relief efforts and personally donated {{currency|50,000,000|JPY|linked=no}} (about {{currency|620,000|USD|linked=no}}) to the Japanese Red Cross.<ref>{{cite web|title=Suzuki Ichiro & Darvish Yu donate to earthquake relief|url=http://www.tokyohive.com/2011/03/suzuki-ichiro-darvish-yu-donate-to-earthquake-relief/|publisher=TokyoHive|access-date=December 8, 2011|date=March 19, 2011}}</ref>

Eventually, the teams agreed to play the full 144-game schedule, but the start of the season would be pushed back several weeks.<ref>{{cite news |last=Allen |first=Jim |title=A season like no other; Teams try to get Japan back to normal in year of challenges |newspaper=The Daily Yomiuri|date=April 9, 2011 |url=http://www.japanesebaseball.com/writers/display.gsp?id=37140 |access-date=October 12, 2013}}</ref> The season began on April 12, 2011, and Darvish started against the [[Saitama Seibu Lions]]. He struggled, allowing seven runs in seven innings and taking the loss.<ref>{{cite web|title=NPB Tracker / data|url=http://www.npbtracker.com/data/velocity.php?team_id=3&pitcher_id=242&date=2011041204&action=Get+Chart|access-date=December 8, 2011}}</ref>

This poor start would not reflect on his overall performance. After that opening game, he would not allow more than three runs in any of his starts. Darvish would win his next eight starts and thirteen of his next fourteen decisions.<ref>{{cite web|title=NPB Tracker / data|url=http://www.npbtracker.com/data/player.php?p_id=242|access-date=December 8, 2011}}</ref> Darvish would finish with his strongest all-around season, winning 18 games and featuring a career-low 1.44 ERA. He also led the league with 28 starts, 232 innings, 276 strikeouts, and a 0.82 WHIP. He also featured remarkable control, walking only 36 batters.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yu Darvish|url=http://bis.npb.or.jp/players/61965110.html|access-date=December 8, 2011}}</ref>

Despite his accomplishments, Darvish was not recognized as the best pitcher in Japan's honor, the [[Sawamura Award]]. Three of the five-member committee voted to recognize Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles right-hander [[Masahiro Tanaka]]. Selection committee chief Masayuki Dobashi explained, "ERA is the best stat to evaluate pitchers...Tanaka's ERA was a little better than that of Darvish. Tanaka also had more complete games than Darvish."<ref name="japantimes.co.jp">{{cite news|title=Eagles hurler Tanaka wins Sawamura Award|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20111115j3.html|access-date=December 8, 2011|newspaper=Japan Times|date=November 15, 2011}}</ref> Pitchers must qualify for the award by meeting seven criteria: 15 wins, a 2.50 ERA, 200 innings pitched, 10 complete games, 150 strikeouts, 25 appearances and a .600 winning percentage. Both Tanaka and Darvish met all the criteria. Tanaka noted, "I only had better numbers than him (Darvish)... As a pitcher, I'm nowhere near his caliber."<ref name="japantimes.co.jp"/>

The Nippon-Ham Fighters were eliminated in the first round of the [[Pacific League]] playoffs, losing both games to the Saitama Seibu Lions. Darvish started game one of the series, going seven innings and allowing only one run on four hits while striking out nine. After Darvish departed, Seibu scored one run in the 9th inning to send the game to extra innings and added three more to win the game in the 11th inning.<ref>{{cite web|title=CS: Saitama Seibu Lions 5&nbsp;– Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters 2|url=http://yakyubaka.com/2011/10/29/cs-saitama-seibu-lions-vs-hokkaido-nippon-ham-fighters-october-29-2011/|access-date=December 8, 2011|archive-date=April 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425082752/http://yakyubaka.com/2011/10/29/cs-saitama-seibu-lions-vs-hokkaido-nippon-ham-fighters-october-29-2011/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After being eliminated, speculation again increased about Darvish being posted to [[Major League Baseball]]. His pending divorce allegedly complicated this situation. Speculation centered on his wife's potential claims to a share of a new contract with an American team.<ref>{{cite news|last=White|first=Paul|title=Divorce may delay Yu Darvish's major league arrival|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/dailypitch/post/2011/11/yu-darvish-divorce-mlb-free-agency-posting/1|access-date=December 8, 2011|newspaper=USA Today|date=November 28, 2011}}</ref>

===Texas Rangers (2012–2017)===

====2012 season====
[[File:Yu Darvish press conference 2012 (1).jpg|thumb|left|280px|In a press conference at [[Sapporo Dome]] on January 24, 2012, Darvish told more than 10,000 Fighters fans why he decided to make a move to Major League Baseball.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sullivan|first=T.R.|title=Back in Japan, Yu discusses lofty U.S. goal|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120124&content_id=26451114&c_id=mlb|work=MLB.com|access-date=January 26, 2012|date=January 24, 2012}}</ref>]]
Darvish was [[posting system|posted]] to [[Major League Baseball]] prior to the 2012 season,<ref>{{cite web|last=Adams|first=Steve|title=Yu Darvish To Be Posted Tomorrow|url=http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/12/yu-darvish-to-be-posted-tomorrow.html|access-date=December 8, 2011|date=December 8, 2011}}</ref> and is currently represented by [[Sports agent|agents]] [[Don Nomura]] and [[Arn Tellem]]. He added confirmation of this posting on his blog.<ref>{{cite web|last=Newman|first=Patrick|title=Darvish to be posted|url=http://www.npbtracker.com/2011/12/darvish-to-be-posted/#content|access-date=December 8, 2011|date=December 8, 2011}}</ref> MLB teams had until December 14, 2011, to submit a blind posting bid, and the Nippon-Ham Fighters had until December 20, 2011, to announce whether the highest bid would be accepted or rejected. Their announcement of acceptance of the highest bid, from the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]], was made on December 19, 2011 [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]], at a reported $51.7 million. The Rangers then had 30 days to negotiate with Darvish, or he would return to Japan.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/la-sp-yu-darvish-20111220,0,4916377.story|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111221004729/http://www.latimes.com/sports/baseball/mlb/la-sp-yu-darvish-20111220,0,4916377.story|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 21, 2011|title=Texas Rangers win bid to negotiate with Yu Darvish|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=December 19, 2011|access-date=December 20, 2011}}</ref> On January 18, 2012, the Texas Rangers signed Darvish to a $60 million contract for six years with a player option to void the last year, 15 minutes prior to a 4:00 pm CST deadline. Rangers CEO [[Nolan Ryan]] commented that Darvish had shown more control than he did at Darvish's age.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/7604326/texas-rangers-ceo-nolan-ryan-eager-see-yu-darvish-take-mound|title=Texas Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan eager to see Yu Darvish take the mound|last=Durrett|first=Richard|date=February 23, 2012|work=ESPN.com|access-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Yu Darvish on March 13, 2012 (4).jpg|thumb|right|Darvish during Spring Training with the Rangers in 2012]]
Darvish's first start in the Majors came on April 9 against the [[Seattle Mariners]] in Texas. His first MLB [[strikeout]] was of [[Dustin Ackley]] on a 2–2 80&nbsp;mph [[curveball]]; the first MLB [[Hit (baseball)|hit]] that he allowed was a [[Single (baseball)|single]] into left field by [[Ichiro Suzuki]] on a 2–2 96&nbsp;mph [[fastball]]. He threw for 5{{fraction|2|3}} innings, giving up 8 hits, 5 runs, and 4 walks, and striking out five, gaining his first MLB win in the process. When [[Alexi Ogando]] came to relieve him in the 6th, Darvish got a standing ovation from the crowd at [[Rangers Ballpark in Arlington]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_09_seamlb_texmlb_1&mode=wrap&c_id=mlb#gid=2012_04_09_seamlb_texmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=tex|title=Seattle gets to Yu, but Texas flexes|last=Sullivan|first=T.R.|date=April 9, 2012|work=[[MLB.com]]|access-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref>

Darvish's first start away from [[Rangers Ballpark in Arlington]] came on April 14 against the [[Minnesota Twins]] at [[Target Field]]. He pitched for 5{{fraction|2|3}} innings, allowing 9 hits, 4 walks, and 2 runs (one of which was unearned), while collecting 4 strikeouts. Despite the Rangers winning the game, it was a no-decision for Darvish. Instead, teammate [[Robbie Ross (baseball)|Robbie Ross]] picked up the win.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid%3D2012_04_14_texmlb_minmlb_1%26mode%3Dgameday |title=Archived copy |access-date=April 25, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025704/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_14_texmlb_minmlb_1&mode=gameday |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>

On April 24, in a game against the [[New York Yankees]], Darvish pitched 8{{fraction|1|3}} shutout innings, collecting 10 strikeouts, while allowing seven hits and two walks. He gave up a hit to [[Nick Swisher]] with one out in the 9th. [[Joe Nathan]], the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Rangers]]' [[closer (baseball)|closer]], relieved him and induced a ground ball [[double play]] to get the save and secure the third win for Darvish. As Nathan came in, Darvish received a deafening ovation from the crowd. This game also marked the seventh time in MLB history that the two starting pitchers were both Japanese, with [[Hiroki Kuroda]] on the mound for the Yankees. The game was also televised in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid%3D2012_04_24_nyamlb_texmlb_1%26mode%3Dgameday |title=Archived copy |access-date=April 25, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000251/http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_24_nyamlb_texmlb_1&mode=gameday |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>

On April 30, Darvish gave up his first MLB [[home run]] to [[Edwin Encarnación]] of the [[Toronto Blue Jays]], in a game that Texas won 4–1. Darvish improved to 4–0, striking out nine and giving up only one run.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/rangers-vs-blue-jays/2012/04/30/318074/final|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304051147/http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_30_texmlb_tormlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=tex|url-status=dead|title=Rangers vs. Blue Jays &#124; 04/30/12|archive-date=March 4, 2016|website=MLB.com}}</ref>

For his performances in April, Darvish was named the AL Rookie of the Month. Darvish went 4–0 with a 2.18 ERA and 33 strikeouts. His first loss didn't come until May 6, against the [[Cleveland Indians]].

On June 20, in an interleague game against the [[San Diego Padres]] at [[Petco Park]], Darvish got his first career MLB [[hit (baseball)|hit]]. In his first at-bat, he hit a bat-shattering single into shallow right field. He did not get to run the bases however, as [[Ian Kinsler]] hit a line shot to the second baseman, and Darvish was tagged off of the bag to complete the double play. He went 1-for-3 for the game.

On July 5, the [[MLB]] announced that Yu Darvish for the [[American League]] and [[David Freese]] for the [[National League (baseball)|National League]] were the final two players to make the [[2012 MLB All-Star Game]] rosters. Darvish had 10 wins and five losses with a 3.59 ERA when MLB announced him as an All-Star. However, Darvish didn't get a chance to pitch in the game, watching from the dugout as his team lost 8–0.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/07/14/texas-rangers-teamreport-182/|title=Texas Rangers – TeamReport|date=July 14, 2012|agency=Reuters|work=[[Chicago Tribune]]|access-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref>

Darvish made 29 starts during his rookie season, compiling a 16-9 record to go along with a 3.90 earned run average and 221 strikeouts in {{fraction|191|1|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yu Darvish 2012 MLB Pitching Splits|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/player/splits/_/id/32055/year/2012/category/pitching|work=ESPN|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

Darvish was selected to start for the Rangers in the first ever [[2012 American League Wild Card Game|AL Wild Card Game]] on October 5 against the [[2012 Baltimore Orioles season|Baltimore Orioles]]. He pitched {{fraction|6|2|3}} innings, striking out seven batters, but also conceded five hits and three runs (two earned), as the Rangers lost 5-1.<ref>{{Cite web|title=2012 AL Wild Card Game Box Score|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/400652558|work=ESPN|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

====2013 season====
On April 2, 2013, Darvish pitched a perfect game through {{Fraction|8|2|3}} innings against the Houston Astros, before giving up a single to [[Marwin González]]. He threw 111 pitches, striking out 14 and walking none.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/04/02/yu-darvish-no-hitter-rangers-astros-perfect-game/2048225/|title= Yu Darvish throws eight 2/3 perfect innings in Houston|date=April 3, 2012|work=USA Today|access-date=April 3, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rangers 7-0 Astros (Apr 2, 2013) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=330402118 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=ESPN |language=en}}</ref> On May 27, Darvish became the first player since [[Randy Johnson]] and [[Curt Schilling]] in 2002 to have 100 strikeouts by [[Memorial Day]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1653657-yu-darvish-becomes-first-pitcher-since-2002-to-reach-100-ks-by-memorial-day|title= Yu Darvish Becomes First Pitcher Since 2002 to Reach 100 K's by Memorial Day|date=May 27, 2013|work=Bleacher Report|access-date=May 28, 2013}}</ref> On July 10, Darvish was placed on the 15-day DL due to a strained trapezius and was replaced on the All-Star roster by [[Matt Moore (baseball)|Matt Moore]]. On August 12, he pitched a no-hitter through {{Fraction|7|1|3}} innings against the Houston Astros until giving up a home run to [[Carlos Corporán]]. Darvish struck out a career-high of 15 batters in that game and Texas won 2–1. By season's end, he compiled 277 strikeouts in {{Fraction|209|2|3}} innings. Additionally, he was fourth in the American League with a 2.83 ERA, trailing [[Aníbal Sánchez]], [[Hisashi Iwakuma]], and [[Bartolo Colón]]. Despite a pedestrian 13–9 record, Darvish placed second in the Cy Young voting to the [[2013 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]]' [[Max Scherzer]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2013 Awards Voting |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_2013.shtml#all_AL_CYA_voting |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====2014 season====
[[File:Yu Darvish on June 30, 2014.jpg|thumb|right|Darvish with the Rangers in 2014]]
In his first start of the [[2014 Texas Rangers season|2014 season]], Darvish faced the [[2014 Tampa Bay Rays season|Tampa Bay Rays]] on April 6. He struck out [[David DeJesus]] and [[Wil Myers]] to start the game, notching his 500th career strikeout. The two strikeouts gave Darvish {{frac|401|2|3}} career innings pitched in MLB, making him the fastest to reach 500 strikeouts in terms of innings pitched. He topped [[Kerry Wood]]'s previous record by three innings. The Rangers won the game 3–0 as Darvish pitched seven shutout innings and struck out six overall.<ref>{{cite news |agency=[[Associated Press]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/04/06/darvish-returns-as-rangers-beat-rays-3-0/7388637/ |title=Yu Darvish dominant in return; fastest to 500 Ks |work=[[USA Today]] |date=April 6, 2014 |access-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/mlb/game/boxscore/l.mlb.com-2014-e.39229/ |title=Texas Rangers at Tampa Bay Rays |work=[[USA Today]] |date=April 6, 2014 |access-date=April 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Ted |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/rangers-right-hander-yu-darvish-fastest-starter-to-500-strikeouts?ymd=20140406&content_id=71145358&vkey=news_mlb |title=Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish fastest starter to 500 Ks |work=[[MLB.com]] |date=April 6, 2014 |access-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-date=April 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409004315/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/rangers-right-hander-yu-darvish-fastest-starter-to-500-strikeouts?ymd=20140406&content_id=71145358&vkey=news_mlb |url-status=dead }}</ref> Darvish's record has since been surpassed several pitchers and is now held by [[Aroldis Chapman]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Among 14 K's, Fernandez gets No. 500 |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/jose-fernandez-notches-500th-career-strikeout-c190337138 |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fewest innings to reach 500 strikeouts (pitcher) |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/411570-fewest-innings-to-reach-500-strikeouts-pitcher |website=[[Guinness World Records]]}}</ref> On May 9, Darvish took a no-hitter in the seventh inning against the [[Boston Red Sox]] before giving up a single to [[David Ortiz]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/mlb-rules-david-ortiz-broke-up-yu-darvishs-no-hitter-in-seventh?ymd=20140514&content_id=75453686&vkey=news_mlb|title=MLB rules Ortiz broke up Yu's no-hitter in seventh|access-date=May 14, 2014|archive-date=May 15, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140515005304/http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/mlb-rules-david-ortiz-broke-up-yu-darvishs-no-hitter-in-seventh?ymd=20140514&content_id=75453686&vkey=news_mlb|url-status=dead}}</ref> The hit was initially ruled an error, thus allowing Darvish to take a no-hitter into the ninth before Ortiz recorded a single in that inning.<ref>{{cite news|title=Yu Darvish loses no-hitter in ninth inning|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2014/05/09/yu-darvish-losses-no-hitter-in-ninth-inning/8930529/|access-date=May 10, 2014|newspaper=Associated Press|date=May 9, 2014}}</ref> However, MLB subsequently overruled the scoring decision, ending the no-hitter in the seventh. On June 11, Darvish threw his first complete-game shutout, blanking the [[Miami Marlins]]. Darvish allowed 6 hits, 3 walks, and struck out 10.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 11, 2014 |title=Rangers 6-0 Marlins (Jun 11, 2014) Box Score |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/340611113 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=ESPN |language=}}</ref>

On July 6, Darvish was selected to play in the [[2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|2014 All-Star Game]]. He entered the game in the third inning and retired all three batters faced, earning a [[Hold (baseball)|hold]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2014 All-Star Game Box Score, July 15 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/2014-allstar-game.shtml |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

On August 13, Darvish was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to elbow inflammation, retroactive to August 10.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goldstein|first=Craig|title=Yu Darvish placed on DL with right elbow inflammation|url=https://www.sbnation.com/2014/8/13/6000617/yu-darvish-injury-rangers-elbow-inflammation-disabled-list|work=SB Nation|date=August 13, 2014|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref> He was eventually shut down for the rest of the season on September 6.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jennings|first=Randy|title=Rangers end Yu Darvish's season|url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/11477929/yu-darvish-texas-rangers-shut-season|work=ESPN|date=September 6, 2014|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

Darvish made 22 starts throughout the season, compiling a 10-7 record while recording a 3.06 earned run average and 182 strikeouts across {{Fraction|144|1|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yu Darvish 2014 MLB Pitching Splits|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/player/splits/_/id/32055/year/2014/category/pitching|work=ESPN|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

====2015 season====
During spring training, Darvish began to experience soreness in his right triceps. He underwent an MRI the following day, which eventually revealed that his right elbow had a torn UCL, preventing Darvish from participating for the entire 2015 baseball season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/12475357/yu-darvish-texas-rangers-undergo-tommy-john-surgery|title=Yu Darvish to miss 2015 season|access-date=March 16, 2015|date=March 13, 2015|publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> He underwent [[Tommy John surgery]] on March 17, performed by [[James Andrews (physician)|Dr. James Andrews]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mello|first1=Igor|title=Darvish undergoes Tommy John surgery, out for 2015 season.|url=http://fantasynews.cbssports.com/fantasybaseball/update/25111346/rangers-sp-yu-darvish-undergoes-tommy-john-surgery|website=CBS Sports Fantasy News|date=March 17, 2015 |access-date=March 17, 2015}}</ref>

====2016 season====
[[File:Yu Darvish on July 16, 2016.jpg|thumb|left|Darvish with the Rangers in 2016]]
[[File:Yu Darvish and Jonathan Lucroy on August 2, 2016.jpg|thumb|Darvish with [[Jonathan Lucroy]] in 2016]]
Darvish began the 2016 season on the 15-day disabled list, still recovering from his Tommy John surgery.<ref>{{cite web|title=Darvish begins 2016 season on DL.|url=http://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/rangers-yu-darvish-placed-on-15-day-dl/|website=www.cbssports.com/|date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=CBS Sports|access-date=April 3, 2016}}</ref> He returned on May 28, pitching five innings with seven strikeouts and one run allowed on three hits, as the Rangers went on to beat the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]], 5–2.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Yu Darvish 2016 Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=darviyu01&t=p&year=2016 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref> On June 13, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to neck and shoulder strains.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-06-14 |title=Rangers' Yu Darvish returns to disabled list after three starts |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/yu-darvish-shoulder-injury-disabled-list-texas-rangers-tommy-john/7ahmaf42iw5u1011jixsdums9 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Sporting News |language=}}</ref> He missed more than a month, returning to the mound on July 16.<ref name=":0" /> On August 24, he hit his first career MLB home run in an away game against the [[Cincinnati Reds]], the first home run by a Rangers pitcher since [[Bobby Witt]] in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-08-25 |title=Yu Darvish stuns Reds with history-making home run |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/yu-darvish-stuns-reds-with-history-making-home-run-024002932.html |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Yahoo Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>

Darvish made 17 starts throughout the season, posting a 7-5 record while compiling a 3.41 earned run average and 132 strikeouts in {{Fraction|100|1|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yu Darvish 2016 MLB Pitching Splits|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/player/splits/_/id/32055/year/2016/category/pitching|work=ESPN|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

Darvish started Game 2 of the [[2016 American League Division Series|2016 ALDS]] against the [[2016 Toronto Blue Jays season|Toronto Blue Jays]], where he gave up five hits and five earned runs across five innings, as the Rangers lost 5-3 on their way to getting swept.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Blue Jays 5-3 Rangers (Oct 7, 2016) Final score|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/361007113|work=ESPN|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

====2017 season====
On March 25, the Rangers announced Darvish as their [[Opening Day]] starter against the [[2017 Cleveland Indians season|Cleveland Indians]] on April 3.<ref>{{Cite web|last=James|first=Chris|title=Rangers Go with Yu Darvish to Start on Opening Day|url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/rangers-go-with-darvish-to-start-opening-day/60823/|work=NBC DFW|date=March 25, 2017|access-date=May 30, 2025}}</ref> He pitched {{fraction|6|1|3}} innings, striking out four batters and conceding five walks, four hits and four earned runs, ultimately taking a no-decision as the Rangers lost 8-5.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Indians 8-5 Rangers (Apr 3 2017) Final Score|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/game/_/gameId/370403113/guardians-rangers|work=ESPN|date=April 3, 2017|access-date=May 30, 2025}}</ref>

Throughout the entire 2017 season, Darvish was subject to trade rumors, as he was in the final year of his contract and the Rangers fell further from playoff contention. On July 23, the Rangers stated that Darvish would not be available for trade.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nolanwritin.com/2017/07/24/texas-rangers-not-interested-trading-yu-darvish/|title=Texas Rangers Are Not Interested in Trading Yu Darvish|date=July 24, 2017|website=Nolan Writin'|access-date=July 27, 2017}}</ref> However, two days later, the Rangers said that the team would be open to trading Darvish for the "right deal."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20152841/texas-rangers-ready-move-ace-yu-darvish-right-deal|title=Sources: Rangers ready to move ace Darvish|work=ESPN.com|access-date=July 27, 2017}}</ref> On July 26, Darvish pitched {{Frac|3|2|3}} innings, giving up a career-high 10 earned runs, the most ever by a Japanese pitcher in MLB history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/SNstats/status/890384298737577984|title=Rangers Yu Darvish sets MLB single-game record for most earned runs allowed by a Japanese pitcher |date=July 26, 2017|website=@SNstats|access-date=July 27, 2017}}</ref>

===Los Angeles Dodgers (2017)===
On July 31, 2017, the Rangers traded Darvish to the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] for prospects [[Willie Calhoun]], [[A. J. Alexy|A.J. Alexy]], and [[Brendon Davis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/la-sp-dodgers-yu-darvish-20170731-story.html|title=Dodgers acquire pitcher Yu Darvish from Texas Rangers minutes before trade deadline|last=McCullough|first=Andy|date=July 31, 2017|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=July 31, 2017}}</ref> On September 7, Darvish became the fastest starter to 1,000 strikeouts in MLB, doing so in 812 innings.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-09-09 |title=Dodgers' Darvish fastest starter to 1K strikeouts |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20641625/yu-darvish-fastest-starter-1000-ks-mlb-history |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref> Darvish was 4–3 with a 3.44 ERA in nine starts for the Dodgers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/2017.shtml|title=2017 Los Angeles Dodgers Statistics|work=Baseball Reference}}</ref> Overall in 2017, with the Rangers and Dodgeres, Darvish made 31 starts with a 10–12 record, 209 strikeouts, 12 wild pitches (7th in the major leagues), and a 3.86 ERA.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |title=Yu Darvish Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/darviyu01.shtml |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Yu Darvish on August 5, 2017 (2).jpg|left|thumb|Darvish with the Dodgers during the 2017 season]]
In the postseason, Darvish won his lone start in the [[2017 National League Division Series|NLDS]], allowing one run in five innings against the [[Arizona Diamondbacks]] while striking out seven. He also pitched well in the [[2017 National League Championship Series|NLCS]] against the [[Chicago Cubs]], with one run in 6{{fraction|1|3}} innings, again with seven strikeouts.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Yu Darvish Postseason Pitching Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=darviyu01&t=p&year=0&post=1 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

====2017 World Series====
In the [[2017 World Series|World Series]], Darvish failed to get out of the second inning in either of his two starts against the [[Houston Astros]]. He lost both games, including Game 7, and allowed nine runs (eight earned) in 3{{fraction|1|3}} innings while failing to strike out one batter.<ref name=":1" /> They were the shortest two starts of his career, and Darvish became the first starting pitcher since [[Art Ditmar]] in [[1960 World Series|1960]] to have two starts of less than two innings in the World Series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.truebluela.com/2017/11/1/16594434/yu-darvish-terrible-dodgers-offense-mia-world-series-game-7-recap-29-years|title=Yu Darvish, Dodgers fall short in Game 7|work=SB Nation|first=Eric|last=Stephen|date=November 1, 2017|access-date=November 2, 2017}}</ref> Shortly after the World Series, an unnamed Astros player suggested that Darvish had been tipping his pitches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/yu-darvish-tipping-pitches-world-series-152908722.html|title=Yu Darvish was tipping his pitches in the World Series|website=Yahoo.com|date=December 12, 2017 |access-date=December 16, 2017}}</ref> Dodgers teammate [[Chase Utley]] had evaluated Darvish's Game 3 start and concluded that this was not the case, though Darvish changed his approach for Game 7. More than a month later, a ''Sports Illustrated'' article revealed that the Astros had figured out how Darvish was tipping his pitches: "Darvish holds the ball at his side when he gets the sign from the catcher. Whether he re-grips or not as he brings the ball into his glove was the tip-off whether he was going to throw a slider/cutter or a fastball." This unnamed Astros player said the Astros had known about this going into Game 3 which they also won, but that they had an even better game plan for Game 7.<ref>[https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/12/11/dodgers-yu-darvish-tipped-pitches-world-series-astros "This Is How Yu Darvish Was Tipping His Pitches in the World Series"], ''Sports Illustrated'', Dan Gartland, December 11, 2017.</ref>

After the season, Darvish became a [[free agent]] for the first time in his career, and he chose not to re-sign with the Dodgers as there was much fan ire against him for his disappointing World Series outings that many felt had cost the Dodgers the title.<ref name="nbcsports.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/cubs/yu-darvish-weighs-astros-cheating-allegations|title=Yu Darvish weighs in on Astros cheating allegations|date=November 15, 2019|website=NBC Sports Chicago}}</ref><ref name="bleachernation.com">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bleachernation.com/cubs/2020/01/13/yu-darvish-has-the-perfect-response-to-the-astros-sign-stealing-punishment/|title=Yu Darvish Has the Perfect Response to the Astros Sign-Stealing Punishment &#124; Bleacher Nation|website=www.bleachernation.com|date=January 13, 2020 }}</ref>

With the Astros being disciplined on January 13, 2020 [[Houston Astros sign stealing scandal|for using cameras]] to [[Sign stealing|steal catcher-to-pitcher signals]] during the 2017 MLB postseason, Darvish refused to blame sign stealing for his poor starts and instead suggested that the 2017 Astros batters were talented, and he humorously posted on Twitter that he would wear a "Yu Garbage" jersey if the Dodgers held a championship parade.<ref name="nbcsports.com"/><ref name="bleachernation.com"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chin |first=Daniel |date=2020-03-09 |title=Has the Astros Scandal Changed How We Think of Yu Darvish and Clayton Kershaw? |url=https://www.theringer.com/mlb/2020/3/9/21170990/astros-sign-stealing-dodgers-world-series-yu-darvish-clayton-kershaw |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}</ref>

===Chicago Cubs (2018–2020) ===
====2018 season====
[[File:Yu Darvish (40309069150) (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|Darvish during Spring Training with the Cubs in 2018]]
On February 13, 2018, Darvish signed a six-year, $126 million contract with the [[Chicago Cubs]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Adler|first=David|title=Cubs sign Darvish to 6-year deal|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-signs-with-cubs/c-266253950|work=MLB.com|date=February 13, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2018}}</ref> He first pitched for the Cubs on March 31, against the [[Miami Marlins]]. He allowed 5 runs in {{Fraction|4|1|3}} innings as the Cubs won 10–6 in 10 innings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yu Darvish's Cubs debut: 5 runs in 4 1/3|url=https://www.mlb.com/cubs/news/yu-darvish-has-uneven-cubs-debut-vs-marlins/c-270302648|publisher=MLB|access-date=March 31, 2018}}</ref> On May 7, Darvish was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to the flu.<ref>{{cite web|title=Yu Darvish goes on DL with illness|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/cubs-put-pitcher-yu-darvish-on-disabled-list/c-275706814|publisher=MLB|access-date=May 7, 2018}}</ref> On May 26, Darvish was again placed on the 10-day disabled list due to right [[triceps]] [[tendinitis]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Yu Darvish goes on DL again with right triceps tendinitis|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-goes-on-disabled-list/c-278437206|publisher=MLB|access-date=May 26, 2018}}</ref> On August 19, Darvish began a rehab stint. While warming up before the second inning, Darvish summoned trainers and was removed from the game.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gonzales |first1=Mark |title=Cubs' Yu Darvish leaves rehab start after only 1 inning |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-spt-cubs-yu-darvish-rehab-assignment-20180819-story.html# |website=Chicago Tribune |date=August 19, 2018 |access-date=August 19, 2018}}</ref> An [[MRI]] revealed Darvish had a stress reaction on his right elbow as well as a [[triceps]] strain, ending his season<ref>{{cite web |last1=Muskat |first1=Carrie |title=Darvish done for '18 with an elbow, triceps injuries |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-injured-season-over/c-291288462 |website=MLB.com |access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> after only 8 games and 40 innings pitched, in which he was 1–3 with a 4.95 ERA.<ref name="auto"/>

====2019 season====
Darvish was 6–8 with a 3.98 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 31 starts.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/player/yu-darvish-506433|title=Yu Darvish Stats, Fantasy & News|website=MLB.com}}</ref> He gave up 33 home runs, the most in the National League, threw 11 wild pitches, the second-most in the NL, and hit 11 batsmen, third-most in the league.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2019-pitching-leaders.shtml|title=2019 National League Pitching Leaders|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}</ref>

====2020 season====
In the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports#North America|pandemic-shortened 2020 season]], Darvish placed second in the National League Cy Young vote after a season going 8–3 with a 2.01 ERA.<ref name="auto"/> He led the league in wins, was second in ERA, walks per nine innings pitched (1.658), and home runs per nine innings pitched (0.592). He was fourth in WHIP (0.961), fifth in win-loss percentage (.727), seventh in hits per nine innings pitched (6.987), and eighth in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (11.013).<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 National League Pitching Leaders |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/2020-pitching-leaders.shtml |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

Darvish started Game 2 of the [[2020 National League Wild Card Series|2020 NL Wild Card Series]] against the [[2020 Miami Marlins season|Miami Marlins]]. He pitched {{fraction|6|2|3}} innings, striking out six batters and giving up the only two runs of the game in a 2-0 loss, as the Cubs were swept, two games to none.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Cooper homers, Sanchez dominates, Marins knock out Cubs 2-0|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401246414|work=ESPN|access-date=May 2, 2025}}</ref>

===San Diego Padres (2021–present)===
====2021 season====
[[File:Yu Darvish 8.27.21.jpg|thumb|Darvish with the Padres in 2021]]
On December 29, 2020, Darvish and his personal catcher [[Víctor Caratini]] were traded to the [[San Diego Padres]] for pitcher [[Zach Davies]] and prospects [[Owen Caissie]], [[Reginald Preciado]], Yeison Santana, and Ismael Mena ahead of the [[2021 San Diego Padres season|2021 season]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cassavell |first1=AJ |title=Padres go all-in, make Snell, Yu deals official |url=https://www.mlb.com/padres/news/aj-preller-padres-go-all-in |website=San Diego Padres |access-date=December 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/news/cubs-nab-ranked-quartet-from-padres|title=Cubs nab ranked quartet from Padres|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]}}</ref> In his first year with the Padres, Darvish posted an 8–11 record with a 4.22 ERA and 199 strikeouts in {{frac|166|1|3}} innings in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yu Darvish 2021 MLB Pitching Splits|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/player/splits/_/id/32055/year/2021|work=ESPN|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

He was also named to his fifth [[2021 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] team.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://clutchpoints.com/shohei-ohtani-yu-darvish-potential-2021-all-star-game-showdown-hits-a-snag-due-to-painful-reason/ | title=Shohei Ohtani-Yu Darvish 2021 All-Star Game showdown hits a snag | date=July 10, 2021 }}</ref> In June, he became the first pitcher in MLB to reach 1,500 strikeouts in fewer than 200 starts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Darvish sets record for fastest to 1,500 K's |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-sets-record-for-fastest-to-1-500-strikeouts |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>

====2022 season====
The [[2022 San Diego Padres season|following season]], Darvish threw his 3,000th career [[strikeout]] on September 2, becoming only the second Japanese pitcher after [[Hideo Nomo]] to reach the milestone.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-reaches-3000-strikeouts-combined-in-mlb-japan | title=Misutā 3,000: Darvish reaches international K milestone | website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref> In 30 starts for San Diego in 2022, Darvish had a 16–8 record and 3.10 ERA with 197 strikeouts in {{Fraction|194|2|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yu Darvish 2022 MLB Pitching Splits|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/player/splits/_/id/32055/year/2022|work=ESPN|access-date=April 8, 2025}}</ref>

Darvish made four starts during the postseason. In Game 1 of the [[2022 National League Wild Card Series|2022 NL Wild Card Series]] against the [[2022 New York Mets season|New York Mets]], he pitched seven innings and gave up only one earned run, earning the win, as the Padres won the game 7-1.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padres hammer Scherzer, rout Mets 7-1 in playoff opener|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401467520|work=ESPN|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref> Darvish started and earned the win in Game 2 of the [[2022 National League Division Series|2022 NLDS]] against the [[2022 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]], striking out seven batters and only allowing three earned runs in a 5-3 victory.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padres pull out 5-3 victory over Dodgers, tie NLDS 1-all|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401467576|work=ESPN|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

Darvish also made two starts in the [[2022 National League Championship Series|2022 NLCS]] against the [[2022 Philadelphia Phillies season|Philadelphia Phillies]]. In Game 1, he struck out seven batters across seven innings, but also gave up the only two runs of the game in a 2-0 loss.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Harper, Schwarber HR as Wheeler, Phils top Pads to open NLCS|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401467584|work=ESPN|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref> He also started Game 5, where he pitched six innings, taking a no-decision as the Padres lost 4-3, losing the series 4-1.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Harper's HR powers Phillies past Padres, into World Series|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401467588|work=ESPN|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

====2023 season====
On February 9, 2023, Darvish signed a six-year, $108 million contract extension with the Padres ahead of the [[2023 San Diego Padres season|2023 season]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sources: Padres' Yu Darvish gets 6-year, $108M extension|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35623496/padres-yu-darvish-gets-6-year-108m-extension?platform=amp|access-date=February 9, 2023|website=espn.com| date=February 9, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> On August 14, 2023, Darvish struck out his 1,919th batter, passing Hideo Nomo to become MLB's Japanese-born leader in strikeouts.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-passes-hideo-nomo-on-strikeout-list | title=Darvish takes top spot for MLB K's by pitcher born in Japan | website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref> On August 31, Darvish was diagnosed with a [[bone spur]] in his right elbow, causing him to be shut down for the rest of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cassavell |first=AJ |date=September 1, 2023 |title=Darvish has bone spur in right elbow: 'Relief in a sense' |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-right-elbow-bone-spur |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=mlb.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gonzalez |first=Alden |date=September 13, 2023 |title=Padres' Yu Darvish (elbow) shut down for rest of season |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38390065/padres-yu-darvish-elbow-shut-rest-season |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=espn.com}}</ref> He made 24 starts, posting an 8–10 record with a 4.56 earned run average and 141 strikeouts in {{Fraction|136|1|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yu Darvish 2023 MLB Pitching Splits|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/player/splits/_/id/32055/year/2023|work=ESPN|access-date=April 8, 2025}}</ref>

====2024 season====
Darvish began the [[2024 San Diego Padres season|season]] as the [[Opening Day|opening day]] starting pitcher for the Padres against the [[San Francisco Giants]] at [[Petco Park]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/giants/news/giants-padres-2024-opening-day-starting-pitchers | title=Giants-Padres Opening Day starting pitchers: Webb vs. Darvish | website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/giants-vs-padres/2024/03/28/745445/final/wrap | title=MLB Gameday: Giants 4, Padres 6 Final Score (03/28/2024) | website=[[MLB.com]] }}</ref> 

On April 17, Darvish was placed on the 15-day injured list due to neck tightness.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rovito|first=Rich|title=Darvish headed to injured list with neck tightness|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-placed-on-injured-list-april-2024|work=MLB|date=April 17, 2024|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref> He returned on May 1, pitching five scoreless innings in a 6-4 victory over the [[2024 Cincinnati Reds season|Cincinnati Reds]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cassavell|first=AJ|title=Darvish deals zeros in first start off IL|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-comes-off-injured-list-with-scoreless-start|work=MLB|date=May 1, 2024|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

On May 20, Darvish recorded his 200th combined career win in both MLB (107) and NPB (93) after the Padres' 9–1 victory over the [[Atlanta Braves]], with only [[Hiroki Kuroda]] (203) and [[Hideo Nomo]] (201) ahead of him.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Darvish 'masterful' in 200th win combined in MLB, NPB |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-reaches-rare-200-win-milestone |access-date=May 20, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> He tied Kuroda on September 27, his final start of the regular season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cassavell |first=AJ |date=September 28, 2024 |title=Darvish matches Kuroda with 203 combined wins in Japan, MLB |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-matches-hiroki-kuroda-for-most-wins-in-japan-mlb |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> 

Darvish was placed on the 15-day injured list again on June 1, retroactive to May 30, due to hamstring tightness.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Falkoff|first=Robert|title=Darvish (hamstring) and Musgrove (elbow) placed on IL|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-joe-musgrove-hit-injured-list-for-padres|work=MLB|date=June 1, 2024|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref> He returned on September 4, pitching {{fraction|2|2|3}} innings in a 6-5 extra inning victory over the [[2024 Detroit Tigers season|Detroit Tigers]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padres 6-5 Tigers (Sep 4, 2024) Final Score|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401570559|work=ESPN|access-date=May 1, 2025}}</ref>

On September 16, Darvish extended his MLB record of consecutive games with multiple strikeouts to 280, the longest streak by any player at any point in their career since the modern era began in 1901.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/history/san-diego-padres-veteran-starting-pitcher-yu-darvish-makes-mlb-history-by-extending-wild-strikeout-streak-280-consecutive-starts-multiple-k-01j812mqx3dz | title=Padres RHP Yu Darvish Makes MLB History by Extending Wild Strikeout Streak | date=September 18, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/padres-yu-darvish-insane-280-game-mlb-record-vs-astros/37c187735caf6f79926c4b79 | title=Padres' Yu Darvish extends insane 280-game MLB record vs Astros &#124; Sporting News | date=September 18, 2024 }}</ref> On September 22, Darvish became the first Japanese-born pitcher to reach 2,000 strikeouts in MLB.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/san-diego-padres-pitcher-yu-darvish-hits-incredible-milestone-in-baseball-history-becoming-first-japanese-pitcher-to-2000-strikeouts | title=San Diego Padres Pitcher Hits Incredible Milestone in Baseball History | date=September 22, 2024 }}</ref> He made 16 starts throughout the season, posting a 7–3 record along with a 3.31 ERA and 78 strikeouts in {{Fraction|81|2|3}} innings pitched.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yu Darvish 2024 MLB Pitching Splits|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/player/splits/_/id/32055/year/2024|work=ESPN|access-date=April 8, 2025}}</ref>

Darvish earned the win in Game 2 of the [[2024 National League Division Series|2024 NLDS]] against the [[2024 Los Angeles Dodgers season|Los Angeles Dodgers]], pitching seven innings and only allowing one earned run in a 10–2 victory.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NLDS Game 2 Box Score|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401701025|work=ESPN.com|access-date=October 17, 2024 }}</ref> Darvish also started the decisive Game 5. Despite pitching well, he gave up the only two runs of the game in {{Fraction|6|2|3}} innings, as the Padres lost the series, 3 games to 2.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NLDS Game 5 Box Score|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401701030|access-date=October 17, 2024}}</ref>

====2025 season====
On March 21, 2025, it was announced that Darvish would miss the start of the [[2025 San Diego Padres season|2025 season]] due to elbow inflammation.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cassavell|first=AJ|title=Darvish (elbow inflammation) to open season on IL|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/yu-darvish-to-open-2025-season-on-injured-list|work=MLB.com|date=March 21, 2025|access-date=March 21, 2025}}</ref> He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on June 16.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Padres Select Bryce Johnson|url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/padres-select-bryce-johnson.html|access-date=June 16, 2025|website=mlbtraderumors.com|language=en}}</ref>

==International career==

===2008 Beijing Olympics===
Named the ace of the Japanese national team by [[Manager (baseball)|manager]] [[Senichi Hoshino]] in the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20080726n1.html|title=Darvish poised for the spotlight at Olympics|work=The Japan Times|date=July 26, 2008|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> Darvish took the hill in Japan's [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics#August 13|first game]] of the [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics#Group stage|preliminary]] round against [[Cuba national baseball team|Cuba]] on August 13, but was charged with the loss after giving up four runs in four innings.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20080814w1.html|title=Japan loses to Cuba in baseball opener|work=The Japan Times|date=August 14, 2008|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> The subpar outing caused Hoshino to lose faith in him and scratch Darvish from the [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics#Semifinals|semi-finals]] that he had penciled him in for, sending Darvish to the mound only in situations that would have no bearing on Japan's fate in the tournament. Darvish started the [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics#August 20|last game]] of the preliminary round against the [[United States national baseball team|United States]] on August 20 and was brought in to mop up after the U.S. had taken a decisive lead in the [[Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics#Bronze medal match|bronze medal match]], finishing the tournament 0–1 with a 5.14 ERA, albeit with 10 strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

===2009 World Baseball Classic===
Darvish pitched in the [[2009 World Baseball Classic]] as the ''de facto'' ace of the [[Japan national baseball team|Japanese national team]],<ref>{{cite web |date=February 24, 2009 |title=Darvish, young pitchers set to play a vital role in WBC title defense |url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sp20090224jc.html |access-date=November 4, 2010 |work=The Japan Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20090305o2.html|title=Relaxed ace Darvish gets to grips with ball|work=The Japan Times|date=March 5, 2009|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> starting the [[2009 World Baseball Classic – Round 1#Japan 4, China 0|opening game]] against [[China national baseball team|China]] on March 5. He pitched four innings, allowing one [[Base on balls|walk]] and no hits and striking out three as Japan beat China, 4–0. However, pitching in a [[Baseball park#Current Major League ballparks|Major League stadium]] for the first time in his career, he struggled in his [[2009 World Baseball Classic – Round 2#South Korea 4, Japan 1|second outing]] of the tournament against [[South Korea national baseball team|South Korea]] on March 17, throwing five innings and giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk and ultimately being charged with the loss.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_03_17_jpnint_korint_1|title=World Baseball Classic: Japan vs. Korea&nbsp;— March 17, 2009 (Boxscore)|work=WorldBaseballClassic.com|publisher=Web.worldbaseballclassic.com|date=March 17, 2009|access-date=November 4, 2010|archive-date=June 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090607062640/http://web.worldbaseballclassic.com/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2009_03_17_jpnint_korint_1|url-status=dead}}</ref> His first career save would follow six days later, when he pitched the final inning of the [[2009 World Baseball Classic#Finals|semifinals]] against the United States, yielding no runs and a single and striking out two as Japan won 9–4.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20090323x1.html|title=Japan books spot in final|work=The Japan Times|date=March 23, 2009|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref>

Darvish came on in relief in the bottom of the ninth inning of the [[2009 World Baseball Classic#Finals|championship game]] against South Korea, with Japan leading 3–2. He struck out his first batter, walked the next two, struck out his next, and then gave up a tying two-out single before finishing the inning with another strikeout. However, Japan scored two runs in the top of the tenth inning to regain a 5–3 lead, and after giving up a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning, Darvish retired the next three batters (striking out two of them) to clinch Japan's second consecutive [[World Baseball Classic#Results|tournament title]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 24, 2009 |title=Japan repeats as WBC champion |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/baseball/japan-repeats-as-wbc-champion-1.847401 |work=CBC Sports}}</ref> In the WBC, he was 2–1 with one blown save, a 2.08 ERA, and 20 strikeouts in 13 innings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Baseball Classic Stats Pitching 2009 Japan |url=https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/stats/pitching/2009 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> He recorded a career-high 99&nbsp;mph when he worked in relief at the WBC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/online/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2012/2612841.html |title=2012 Texas Rangers Top 10 Prospects With Scouting Reports |publisher=baseballamerica.com |access-date=January 26, 2014}}</ref>

===2023 World Baseball Classic===
[[File:Yu Darvish 20230306.jpg|thumb|left|Darvish representing Japan in the [[2023 World Baseball Classic]]]]

After not playing in the WBC in 2013 and 2017, Darvish re-joined Japan's roster for the [[2023 World Baseball Classic|2023 WBC]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/mlb/news/japan-world-baseball-classic-roster-shohei-ohtani-yu-darvish-2023-wbc/pzapxzzqya3fzp5izrvljmyd|title=Japan World Baseball Classic roster: Shohei Ohtani, Yu Darvish headline 2023 WBC team|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=February 15, 2023 }}</ref> He earned the win after allowing 3 runs in 3 innings in a start against [[South Korea national baseball team|South Korea]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=MLB Gameday: Korea 4, Japan 13 Final Score (03/10/2023) |url=https://www.mlb.com/gameday/korea-vs-japan/2023/03/10/719532/final/box |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> In 3 games, he allowed 4 earned runs and 3 home runs in 6 innings, as Japan won its first WBC title since 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Baseball Classic Stats Pitching 2023 Japan |url=https://www.mlb.com/world-baseball-classic/stats/pitching/japan/games |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Pitching style==
[[File:Yu Darvish on March 13, 2012 (2).jpg|thumb|Darvish mid-pitch with the Rangers in 2012]]

Darvish is a right-handed pitcher who throws from a three-quarter [[Pitcher#Pitching in a game|arm slot]] in a drop-and-drive motion.<ref>{{cite web|author=Hershiser, Orel|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/notebook?page=bbtn/090308|title=Japan's Darvish has all the tools to succeed|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=March 7, 2009|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> He has a large frame for a pitcher, listed at 6&nbsp;ft 5 in and 220&nbsp;lb. Darvish throws a [[four-seam fastball]] which averages 93–95&nbsp;mph (tops out at 99&nbsp;mph<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/rangers-yu-darvish-earns-second-straight-win-c182040504|title=Darvish displays competitive fire, wins again|work=[[MLB.com]]|author=T.R. Sullivan|date=June 4, 2016|access-date=July 16, 2016|archive-date=June 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629165848/http://m.mlb.com/news/article/182040504/rangers-yu-darvish-earns-second-straight-win|url-status=live}}</ref>),<ref name="sports.yahoo.com">{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/rangers--yu-darvish-angels-victory-strikeouts-043922291.html|title=Yu Darvish mows down hitters with stunning variety of pitches comparable to Pedro Martinez|work=Yahoo|date=April 24, 2013|access-date=April 24, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/04/texas-rangers-teammates-yu-darvish-and-a-j-pierzynski-forming-dynamic-duo.html/|title=Texas Rangers teammates Yu Darvish and A.J. Pierzynski forming dynamic duo|work=[[The Dallas Morning News]]|date=April 24, 2013|access-date=April 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130428012134/http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/2013/04/texas-rangers-teammates-yu-darvish-and-a-j-pierzynski-forming-dynamic-duo.html/|archive-date=April 28, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/yu-darvish/13074/pitch-type-splits?position=P|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402142040/http://www.fangraphs.com/pitchfx.aspx?playerid=13074&position=P|url-status=dead|title=Yu Darvish – Pitch Type Splits &#124; FanGraphs Baseball|archive-date=April 2, 2016|website=www.fangraphs.com}}</ref> as well as a hard [[slurve]] ([[Slider (baseball)|slider]]) in the low 80s with a sharp break.<ref name="sports.yahoo.com"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20071029j2.html|title=Young star Darvish impresses Dragons|work=The Japan Times|date=October 29, 2007|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/sb20090314o1.html|title=Fukudome bats Japan past Cubs; Darvish impresses|work=The Japan Times|date=March 14, 2009|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> He complements these two with a wide repertoire of secondary pitches, including a [[two-seam fastball]] (also described as a [[shuuto]]),<ref>{{cite web|title=Yu Darvish's Filthy "Shuuto" from Tuesday – What is this pitch?|url=http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2012/4/27/2978114/yu-darvishs-filthy-shuuto-from-tuesday-what-is-it|date=April 27, 2012|work=Beyond the Box Score|publisher=SBNation.com}}</ref> a [[Cutter (baseball)|cutter]], two [[curveball]]s, a [[Split-finger fastball|splitter]], and an occasional [[changeup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://brooksbaseball.net/player_cards/player_card.php?player=506433|title=Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool – Player Card: Yu Darvish|publisher=Brooks Baseball|access-date=September 19, 2012}}</ref> Darvish has a "fast curve" and a "slow curve", the former averaging about 80&nbsp;mph and the latter about 71. The slow curve is almost exclusively used in no-strike and 1-strike counts, while the fast curve is mostly used in 2-strike counts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/blog_article/darvishs-curves/|title=Darvish's curves|last=Apostoleris|first=Lucas|date=July 22, 2012|work=The Hardball Times|access-date=October 3, 2012}}</ref> Some professional scouts consider Darvish to have the best repertoire of quality pitches, including the best slider, in all of [[Major League Baseball]].<ref name="sports.yahoo.com"/> In August 2019, Darvish learned a [[knuckle curve]] from Cubs teammate [[Craig Kimbrel]] and began using the pitch.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gonzales |first1=Mark |title=Yu Darvish has a new weapon – a pitch Craig Kimbrel taught him last week |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/cubs/ct-cubs-yu-darvish-20190828-fd6pkd4zhvh3vc4opqeqetv3ki-story.html |website=chicagotribune.com |date=August 28, 2019 |publisher=Chicago Tribune |access-date=August 28, 2019}}</ref>

Advance scouting on Darvish is made difficult by his tendency to change his most frequent pitch sequences over time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=18557|title=Advance Scout: The Difficulty of Scouting Yu Darvish|last=Brooks|first=Dan|date=October 5, 2012|work=Baseball Prospectus|access-date=October 5, 2012}}</ref>

While Darvish uses both the [[Pitching position#Windup|set]], or "stretch" position and the [[Pitching position#Windup|windup]], he has been noted for pitching exclusively from the stretch at times, even when there are not runners on base.<ref name=Fraley>{{cite web|last=Fraley|first=Gerry|authorlink=Gerry Fraley|title=Darvish from the stretch, not unusual|url=http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/03/darvish-from-the-stretch-not-u.html|publisher=Dallas Morning News|access-date=March 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312043844/http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2012/03/darvish-from-the-stretch-not-u.html|archive-date=March 12, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> While pitching from the windup is generally thought to add velocity to pitches, the set position allows pitchers more control over baserunners.<ref name=Howell>{{cite web|last=Howell|first=Timothy|title=Yu Darvish: Full Analysis and Grades of Rangers Ace's First Spring Start|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1097195-yu-darvish-debut-full-analysis-and-grades-of-rangers-aces-first-spring-start|publisher=Bleacher Report|access-date=March 24, 2012}}</ref> Darvish often uses the set position to keep his delivery in sync and consistent.<ref name="Fraley"/>

Prior to the 2006 season, Darvish's "go-to" pitch was a [[screwball]], and he tends to rely more on his off-speed pitches than his fastball. After injuring his shoulder in an [[exhibition game]] start against the [[2006 World Baseball Classic]] Japanese national team in February 2006, because of the strain the screwball had gradually been putting on his shoulder, he took the pitch out of his in-game repertoire and worked to develop his splitter until it became an equally effective pitch that would replace the screwball.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} He also increased his fastball velocity for several years in MLB, with his average velocity rising from 92.7 miles per hour in 2012 to 95.9 miles per hour in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yu Darvish - Stats - Pitching |url=https://www.fangraphs.com/players/yu-darvish/13074/stats?position=P#pitch-type-velo |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=FanGraphs Baseball |language=en}}</ref>

In 2019 alone, Darvish used 10 different pitches: a cutter with two different movements, both four seam and two seam fastballs, a slider, a splitter, normal and slow curveballs, a knuckle curve, and a changeup. In 2020, he revealed on Twitter that he learned a "supreme pitch," which is a hybrid between a splitter and a two-seam fastball. This pitch can reach 93&nbsp;mph.<ref>{{Cite web|title=【中譯】達比修有第11球種》「至尊球」怎麼握？效果為何？ – YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V26klwTmwI| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218095500/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V26klwTmwI&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=December 18, 2020 | url-status=dead|access-date=August 20, 2020|website=www.youtube.com}}</ref> To add new pitches to his arsenal, Darvish will often use a new pitch in game with little knowledge beforehand, forcing him to adapt to it quickly.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Yu Darvish - The Art of Pitching|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac5UiZZY0jk|website=YouTube| date=August 27, 2021 }}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:Padres Visit 3rd MAW Marines at Miramar (6).jpg|thumb|Darvish and the Padres at [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar]] on February 3, 2023.]]
In August 2007, Darvish acknowledged a relationship with Japanese model and actress [[Saeko (actress)|Saeko]]. He announced later that Saeko was pregnant with their son. They married on November 11, 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/baseball-player-darvish-and-actress-saeko-have-son|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015212357/http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/baseball-player-darvish-and-actress-saeko-have-son|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 15, 2008|title=Baseball player Darvish and actress Saeko have son|publisher=Japan Today|access-date=November 4, 2010}}</ref> and their son was born in March 2008. Their second child, a boy, was born in February 2010.<ref>[http://www.npbtracker.com/2010/03/page/3/ "NPB Bullet Points"] ''NPB Tracker'' (March 1, 2010) August 3, 2017</ref> The couple's divorce was finalized in January 2012, on the same day that Darvish officially signed with the Rangers.<ref>[http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/sports/news/20120120p2g00m0sp164000c.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120122215859/http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/sports/news/20120120p2g00m0sp164000c.html|date=January 22, 2012}}</ref>

Darvish made his first [[donation]] at the age of 10 when his father’s native Iran suffered [[1997 Qayen earthquake|an earthquake]], leading Darvish to donate his allowance money to the cause.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cubbiescrib.com/2019/04/20/chicago-cubs-yu-darvish-charities/ | title=There's more to Chicago Cubs hurler Yu Darvish than his pitching | date=April 20, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDKJPi00IjM | title=Infield Chatter Player Profile &#124; Yu Darvish | website=[[YouTube]] | date=March 30, 2021 }}</ref> Darvish established a humanitarian fund dedicated to the construction, installation, and maintenance of wells, well pumps, and rainwater storage facilities in developing countries called the "Yu Darvish Water Fund" in February 2007. He announced plans to contribute to the fund by donating {{currency|100,000|JPY}} each time he notches a regular season win. The fund is managed by the Japan Water Forum.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14863184 | title=Darvish an ace in pitching projects to provide safe drinking water &#124; the Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis }}</ref>

An entertainment company, [[Avex|Avex Group Holdings Inc.]] manages Darvish's non-baseball rights worldwide, and he has appeared in ads for many companies, including [[Seiko]], [[Asahi Breweries|Asahi Dry Black Beer]], and [[Pocari Sweat]]. Darvish has also appeared on the covers of Japanese men's fashion magazines, such as ''[[GQ]]'', ''Men's Non-No'', and ''Gainer''. Darvish was selected as the "GQ Man of the Year" in Japan in the February 2012 issue.<ref name=gq/> Darvish is sponsored by Japanese sportswear supplier [[Asics]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://sgbonline.com/asics-to-exit-baseball-business-to-focus-on-cult-hit-sneakers/ | title=Asics to Exit Baseball Equipment Biz; Shifts Attention to Running Category &#124; SGB Media Online }}</ref>

On July 30, 2015, Darvish announced that his girlfriend, former world-champion wrestler [[Seiko Yamamoto]], gave birth to their son on July 29.<ref>[https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/texas-rangers/rangersheadlines/2015/07/30/rangers-wish-yu-darvish-well-after-pitcher-welcomes-new-baby "Rangers wish Yu Darvish well after pitcher welcomes new baby"] by Michael Florek ''[[Dallas News]]'' (July 2015) August 3, 2017</ref><ref>[http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/page/springtraining_yudarvish/table-place-yu-darvish-return "Yu Darvish, Rangers highly anticipating a return to action"] by [[Jerry Crasnick]] (February 22, 2016) ''[[ESPN]]'' August 3, 2017</ref>

In 2018, Darvish purchased a $4.55 million home in [[Evanston, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cubbiescrib.com/2019/04/19/chicago-cubs-leave-yu-darvish-alone/|title=Chicago Cubs: Off the field, Yu Darvish fighting a different kind of battle|date=April 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Freund |first=Sara |date=June 12, 2018 |title=Cubs player Yu Darvish buys $4.55M Evanston home |url=https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/6/12/17454812/cubs-yu-darvish-buys-evanston-mansion |access-date=June 13, 2018 |work=Curbed Chicago}}</ref> He requested permission to construct a six-foot high fence around the property and to acquire adjacent land owned by the city, which caused some controversy among his neighbors, as the fence would require a zoning variance and would obstruct neighborhood views of [[Lake Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://evanstonnow.com/story/government/bill-smith/2018-06-13/79985/cubs-pitcher-seeks-to-buy-public-lakefront-land|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621042616/https://evanstonnow.com/story/government/bill-smith/2018-06-13/79985/cubs-pitcher-seeks-to-buy-public-lakefront-land|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 21, 2018|title=Cubs pitcher seeks to buy public lakefront land {{!}} Evanston Now|date=June 21, 2018|access-date=June 21, 2018}}</ref> After the fence was constructed, Darvish's neighbors filed a lawsuit in [[Cook County Circuit Court]] on March 29, 2019, asking a judge to rule that the Darvishes' fence obstructed their view of the lake, violating an [[easement]] and a verbal agreement.<ref>{{cite web | last=Meadows | first=Jonah | title=Yu Darvish Sued By Neighbors Claiming Fence Illegally Blocks View | website=Evanston, IL Patch | date=2019-04-17 | url=https://patch.com/illinois/evanston/yu-darvish-sued-neighbors-claiming-fence-illegally-blocks-view | access-date=2025-05-30}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Major League Baseball players from Japan]]
* [[List of Major League Baseball career strikeout leaders]]
* [[List of World Series starting pitchers]]

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Yu Darvish}}
{{Baseballstats|mlb=506433|espn=32055|br=d/darviyu01|fangraphs=13074|brm=darvis001yu-|retro=D/Pdarvy001}}
*{{Japanesebaseball|id=1890}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110612055604/http://www.japaneseballplayers.com/en/player.php?id=ydarvish Yu Darvish at JapaneseBallPlayers.com]
*{{Official website|http://www.darvish-yu.jp}} {{in lang|ja}}
*{{YouTube|channel=UCpRTROg3nHnOWVPVeMq4z_w|Yu Darvish}} {{in lang|ja}}
* {{YouTube|channel=UCn69pO-Cpt_fQVOnfIq9qbg|ダルビッシュのゲームちゃんねる(Darvish’s game)}} {{in lang|ja}}
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