The San Diego Padres’ hopes for a strong start to May took a devastating hit Tuesday night, as starting pitcher Yu Darvish was forced to exit early after taking a direct hit from a line-drive comebacker off his throwing arm in the third inning of a 6–4 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
The incident occurred with two outs and runners on base when Giants slugger Michael Conforto ripped a fastball straight back to the mound. Darvish instinctively reached up but couldn’t avoid the ball, which struck his forearm near the elbow. He immediately crumpled to the ground in visible pain, prompting athletic trainers and manager Mike Shildt to rush to the mound.
Darvish left the game under his own power but was holding his right arm tightly against his chest. He was later seen heading to the clubhouse for further evaluation and was officially ruled out for the remainder of the game.
“Anytime a pitcher gets hit like that, it’s scary,” Shildt said postgame. “We’re hoping for the best, but we’ll know more after imaging and tests. Obviously, Yu’s a huge part of this rotation.”
Darvish, 37, had been off to a strong start in the 2025 season, posting a 2.84 ERA and leading the Padres’ rotation with consistency and veteran leadership. His sudden departure adds to a growing list of injury concerns for San Diego, who are already without starters Joe Musgrove and Robert Suarez due to lingering arm issues.
Initial X-rays taken at Petco Park were reportedly “inconclusive,” and Darvish is scheduled for an MRI on Wednesday to determine the extent of the damage. The team has not yet announced a timetable for his return but acknowledged a stint on the injured list is “very likely.”
The Padres, currently sitting in second place in the NL West, will now have to rely on younger arms and potentially seek help from Triple-A El Paso or the trade market if Darvish is sidelined long-term.
“It’s a gut punch, no doubt,” said shortstop Xander Bogaerts. “But we’ve got to rally and stay locked in. Yu would want that from us.”
As the Padres await official word, the loss of one of their most dependable starters casts a shadow over a season filled with high expectations.
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