Should the Padres be surprised Yu Darvish has an elbow problem?
Darvish is 38 with over 1,700 innings on his arm..
When the Padres gave Yu Darvish a 6-year, $108 million extension that would take him through his age 41 season, they had to know this was coming. It’s not Tommy John yet but what they know is coming is an IL stint to start the season due to elbow inflammation.
Fatigue. Inflammation. Elbow tightness.
Those aren’t words anyone wants to be linked to any Padre—let alone Darvish. But the reality is he’s 38 and he has 1,706 innings on that arm and that’s just regular season innings (so not counting his Japanese, Spring Training and postseason).
It’s been well chronicled how many pitches he throws and how much he tinkers with things to try to improve even as he gets closer to retirement.
It’s a lot of breaking pitches and over time—regardless of how well you take care of your body—it’s going to take a toll.
Darvish is already a Tommy John recipient (2015) and since then he’s gone on the IL with shoulder discomfort, back tightness, triceps tendinitis, a hip impingement, elbow inflammation, neck tightness and a groin strain.
The Padres may be disappointed that this is happening but they shouldn’t be shocked. Unfortunately this is what the sport is. It seems like with every pitcher it’s not a matter of if but when they’re going to have elbow/arm issues.
There’s no timetable for his return but now there’s an opportunity for Stephen Kolek, Kyle Hart and Randy Vasquez to step up and prove they belong.
When the Padres gave Yu Darvish a 6-year, $108 million extension that would take him through his age 41 season, they had to know this was coming. It’s not Tommy John yet but what they know is coming is an IL stint to start the season due to elbow inflammation.
Fatigue. Inflammation. Elbow tightness.
Those aren’t words anyone wants to be linked to any Padre—let alone Darvish. But the reality is he’s 38 and he has 1,706 innings on that arm and that’s just regular season innings (so not counting his Japanese, Spring Training and postseason).
It’s been well chronicled how many pitches he throws and how much he tinkers with things to try to improve even as he gets closer to retirement.
It’s a lot of breaking pitches and over time—regardless of how well you take care of your body—it’s going to take a toll.
Darvish is already a Tommy John recipient (2015) and since then he’s gone on the IL with shoulder discomfort, back tightness, triceps tendinitis, a hip impingement, elbow inflammation, neck tightness and a groin strain.
The Padres may be disappointed that this is happening but they shouldn’t be shocked. Unfortunately this is what the sport is. It seems like with every pitcher it’s not a matter of if but when they’re going to have elbow/arm issues.
There’s no timetable for his return but now there’s an opportunity for Stephen Kolek, Kyle Hart and Randy Vasquez to step up and prove they belong.
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