Yu Darvish

Darvish was scouted by Major League teams, such as the then Anaheim Angels and Atlanta Braves, even while in junior high. As he entered his senior year of high school, the Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets had expressed interest in signing him,[8] 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 amateur draft along with Yokohama Senior High School right-hander Hideaki Wakui (later picked by the Seibu Lions) and Akita Municipal Akita 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 17 November draft,[9] signing him to a base salary of 15 million yen, a signing bonus of 100 million yen and additional performance-based incentives (the equivalent of what a first-round college or industrial league player would normally receive) on 17 December.

Darvish received further publicity when he was caught smoking in a pachinko parlor on an off-day during his first Spring training in 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.[10]

Despite his suspension, Darvish made his professional debut later that season, taking the mound in an interleague game against the Carp on 15 June. Though he gave up back-to-back solo home runs in the ninth, he pitched 8+ innings on those two runs alone and earned the win,[11] becoming the 12th pitcher in NPB history to earn a win in one's professional debut as a rookie straight out of high school. He recorded his first complete game win on 6 August against the Lions and his first complete game shutout on 18 September, holding the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to just two 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 ​94 ¹⁄₃ innings with an ERA of 3.53.

Darvish had a breakout year in 2006, compiling a 12–5 record with 115 strikeouts and a 2.89 ERA.[12][13] In particular, he went 10–0 after 30 May, playing a leading role in the Fighters' first Pacific League title since 1981 (his win streak lasted until 14 April of the following season, when it reached 12–0) and contributing to their first championship since 1961 in the 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 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.

Darvish pitching for the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters in 2007

Darvish was named the Fighters' starter for their 2007 season opener, becoming the fourth pitcher in franchise history (including the Fighters' years as the 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 no-decision in his second start against the Lions on 30 March (the game ended a 2–2 tie in extra innings) and 14 again in a complete game win in his next start against the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks on 7 April, becoming the second pitcher in Japanese professional baseball history to strike out 14 or more batters in two consecutive starts.

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-hander Yoshihisa Naruse) for the year, limiting hitters to a .174 batting average against and leading the league with 210 strikeouts.[14] He led the Fighters to their second consecutive league title, winning both of his starts in the second round of the Climax Series (playoffs) against the Marines.[15][16]

Darvish took the mound in Game 1 of the Japan Series that followed on 27 October 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.[17] With the Fighters down 3–1 and facing elimination, Darvish started Game 5 on 1 November 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 on base and allowing the first 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.[18] 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).

Darvish was presented with both his first career Eiji Sawamura Award[19] (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 awards that year.

Darvish made his national team debut in the 2007 Asian Baseball Championship (which also functioned as the Asian qualifying tournament for the 2008 Beijing Olympics) against Chinese Taipei on 3 December 2007. Because Japanese law requires that a person holding 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.[20]

On 22 December, Darvish re-signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters for 200 million yen plus payment at piece rates, up 128 million yen from 2006. At 21 years old, Darvish became the youngest player in Japanese baseball history to reach the 200 million yen mark.

In 2008, Darvish was named the Fighters' starter in the season opener for the second consecutive year, pitching a complete game 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 10 April, in their only match-up of the season, neither gave up a single hit through the first five innings. Iwakuma went the distance, throwing just 100 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.[21]

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 Triple Crown categories, finishing the season with a 16–4 record, 1.88 ERA[22] 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 Climax Series against the Orix Buffaloes on 11 October, allowing nine hits but holding the team to one run while striking out 14 in a 4–1 complete game win.[23] He started Game 2 of the second round against the Saitama Seibu Lions on 18 October and pitched a complete game shutout in a 5–0 win,[24] but the Fighters lost the series 4–2 and fell short of their third straight appearance in the Japan Series.

On 1 December, Darvish re-signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters for 270 million yen plus payment at piece rates, up 70 million yen from 2007.

Darvish started the Fighters' season opener for the third straight year in 2009, taking the mound against the Eagles on 3 April 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).[25] On 24 April, 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,[26] 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 1 May (the Fighters lost 2–1 in extra innings).

On 22 August, Darvish was taken off 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 13 September, 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 1 November. 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 stress fracture of the right hand forefinger. Darvish said he first experienced pain after practice on 28 October 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 his second Most Valuable Player and 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 9 December, Darvish re-signed with the Nippon Ham Fighters for 330 million yen, up 60 million yen from 2009. At 23, Darvish became the youngest player in Japanese baseball history to reach the 300 million yen mark, along with being the highest-paid pitcher in the Pacific League presently.[27]

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,[28] 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 20 March. Darvish allowed two early unearned runs on his way to a complete game loss (5 runs allowed, 3 earned runs) striking out 13.[29] The Fighters began the season with a 5–14–1 stretch that was put them with their worst winning percentage in five years.[30] 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.[30] Darvish struck out at least 10 hitters in each of his first five starts.[31]

Darvish's 2010 season also was noticeable because speculation increased about his potential move (or 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."[32] 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.[32]

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.[31] Darvish finished the season with only a 12–8 record, but with a 1.78 ERA.[33] He led the league with 10 complete games, 222 strikeouts, a 1.01 WHIP. This was Darvish's fourth consecutive sub 2.00 ERA.

On 18 October 2010, Darvish posted on his blog that he would be returning to the Fighters for the 2011 season.[34]

On 6 January 2011 Darvish agreed to a contract for the 2011 season that would make him the highest-paid player in Japan.[35] His salary was 500 million Japanese Yen (which on 6 January converted to $6,065,490 US dollars).[36]

The 2011 Nippon Professional Baseball season was delayed by the 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 9/11 terrorist attacks. Darvish was among the players who felt it was not appropriate to quickly return to baseball, "I am a baseball player and a human being as well. I cannot think about baseball alone as I normally do."[37] Darvish took part in efforts to raise funds for the relief efforts and personally donated 50,000,000 Yen (about US$620,000) to the Japanese Red Cross.[38]

Eventually the teams agreed to play the full 144-game schedule, but the start of the season would be pushed back several weeks.[39] The season began on 12 April 2011 and Darvish started against the Saitama Seibu Lions. He struggled, allowing seven runs in seven innings and taking the loss.[40]

This poor start would not reflect 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.[41] 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.[42]

Despite his accomplishments, Darvish was not recognized with the best pitcher in Japan 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."[43] 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."[43]

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.[44]

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.[45]

In a press conference at Sapporo Dome on 24 January 2012, Darvish told more than 10,000 Fighters fans why he decided to make a move to Major League Baseball.[46]

Darvish was posted to Major League Baseball prior to the 2012 season,[47] and is currently represented by agents Don Nomura and Arn Tellem. He added confirmation of this posting on his blog.[48] MLB teams had until 14 December 2011 to submit a blind posting bid, and the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters had until the 20th of that month to announce whether the highest bid would be accepted or rejected. Their announcement of acceptance of the highest bid, from the Texas Rangers, was made on 19 December EST, at a reported $51.7 million. The Rangers then had 30 days to negotiate with Darvish, or he would return to Japan.[49] On 18 January, the Texas Rangers signed Darvish to a $60M dollar contract for six years with a player option to void the last year, fifteen minutes prior to a 4:00pm CST deadline. Rangers CEO Nolan Ryan commented that Darvish had shown more control than he did at Darvish's age.[50]

Darvish's first start in the Majors came on 9 April against the Seattle Mariners in Texas. His first MLB strikeout was of Dustin Ackley on a 2–2 80 mph curveball; the first MLB hit that he allowed was a single into left field by Ichiro Suzuki on a 2–2 96 mph fastball. He threw for 5​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.[51]

Darvish's first start away from Rangers Ballpark in Arlington came on 14 April against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. He pitched for 5​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 picked up the win.[52]

On 24 April, in a game against the New York Yankees, Darvish pitched for 8​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 Rangers' 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.[53]

On 30 April, 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.[54]

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 6 May, against the Cleveland Indians.

On 20 June, in an interleague game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park, Darvish got his first career MLB 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 5 July 2012, the MLB announced that Yu Darvish for the American League and David Freese for the 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 the 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.[55]

On 2 April 2013, Darvish pitched a perfect game through eight 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros, before throwing a slider and giving up a single to Marwin González.[56] He threw 111 pitches, striking out 14 and walking none.[57] On 27 May, Darvish became the first player since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in 2002 to have 100 strikeouts by Memorial Day.[58] On 10 July 2013, Darvish was placed on the 15-day DL due to a strained trapezius and was replaced on the All-Star roster by Matt Moore. On 12 August 2013, he pitched a no-hitter through seven 1/3 innings against the Houston Astros until giving up a home run to Carlos Corporán. Darvish struck out a career-high of 15 in that game and Texas won 2–1. By season's end, he compiled 277 strikeouts in just 209 2/3 innings. Additionally, was fourth in the American League in with a 2.83 ERA, behind Aníbal Sánchez, Hisashi Iwakuma, and Bartolo Colón. Despite a pedestrian 13–9 won-lost record, Darvish placed second in the Cy Young voting to the Detroit Tigers' Max Scherzer.

In his first start of the 2014 season, Darvish faced the Tampa Bay Rays on 6 April. He struck out David DeJesus and Wil Myers to start the game, notching his 500th career strikeout. The two strikeouts gave Darvish ​401 ²⁄₃ career IP in the Major Leagues, making him the fastest to reach 500 SO in terms of innings pitched. It 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.[59][60][61] On 9 May, Darvish took a no-hitter in the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox before giving up a single to David Ortiz.[62] 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,[63] however Major League Baseball subsequently overruled the scoring decision, ending the no-hitter in the seventh. On 11 June 2014 Darvish threw his first complete game shutout against the Miami Marlins. Darvish allowed 6 hits, 3 walks and struck out 10.[64]

On 6 July 2014 Yu Darvish was elected to play the 2014 MLB All-Star Game. Darvish entered the All Star Game in the third inning to retire all three batters.

During spring training, Darvish began to experience soreness in his right triceps. He underwent an MRI the following day, eventually to reveal that his right elbow had a torn UCL, preventing Darvish from participating for the entire 2015 baseball season.[65] He underwent Tommy John surgery on 17 March 2015, performed by Dr. James Andrews.[66]

Darvish with Texas in 2016

Darvish began the 2016 season on the 15-day disabled list in an effort to continue recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent in 2015.[67] He returned on 28 May against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching 5 innings with 7 strikeouts and one run allowed on 3 hits as the Rangers went on to win 5–2. On 13 June 2016, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to neck and shoulder strains. On 24 August 2016, he hit his 1st 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.

Throughout the entire 2017 season, Darvish was enshrouded in trade rumors as he only had one year left of team control and the Rangers fell further from playoff contention. On 23 July, the Rangers stated that Darvish would not be available for trade.[68] However, two days later, the Rangers said that the team would be open to trading Darvish for the "right deal".[69] On 26 July, Darvish pitched ​3 ²⁄₃ innings, giving up a career-high ten earned runs, the most ever by a Japanese pitcher in MLB history.[70]

On 31 July 2017, the Rangers traded Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers for prospects Willie Calhoun, A. J. Alexy, and Brendon Davis.[71] He was 4–3 with a 3.44 ERA in nine starts for the Dodgers.[72] Overall in 2017, combined with both teams, Darvish made 31 starts with a 10–12 record, 209 strikeouts, 12 wild pitches (7th in the major leagues), and a 3.86 ERA.[73]

In the postseason, he won his one start in the 2017 NLDS, allowing one run in five innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks while striking out seven. He also pitched well in the 2017 NLCS against the Chicago Cubs, with one run in 6​¹⁄₃ innings with also seven strikeouts.

In the 2017 World Series he failed to get out of the second inning in either of his two starts against the Houston Astros. He lost both games, including game seven, and allowed nine runs (eight earned) in 3​¹⁄₃ innings while failing to strike out a single batter.[74] They were the shortest two starts of his career, and Darvish became the first starting pitcher since Art Ditmar in 1960 to have two starts of less than two innings in the World Series.[75] Shortly after the World Series, an unnamed Astros player suggested that Darvish had been tipping his pitches.[76] Dodgers teammate Chase Utley had evaluated Darvish's game three start and concluded that this was not the case, though Darvish changed his approach for game seven. 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.[77]

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.[78][79]

With the Astros being disciplined on 13 January 2020 for using cameras to steal catcher-to-pitcher signals during the 2017 MLB postseaon, Darvish refused to blame sign stealing for his poor starts and instead suggested that the 2017 Astros batters were talented, and humorously joking on Twitter that he would wear a "Yu Garbage" jersey if the Dodgers held a championship parade.[78][79]

On February 13, 2018, Darvish signed a six-year, $126 million contract with the Chicago Cubs.[80] He played his first game with the Cubs on 31 March 2018, against the Miami Marlins. He allowed 5 runs in 4.1 innings as the Cubs won 10–6 in 10 innings.[81] On 7 May, Darvish was placed on the 10-day disabled list due to the flu.[82] On 26 May, Darvish was again placed on the 10-day disabled list due to right triceps tendinitis.[83] On 19 August 2018, Darvish began a rehab stint. While warming up before the second inning, Darvish summoned trainers and was removed from the game.[84] An MRI revealed Darvish had a stress reaction on his right elbow as well as a triceps strain, ending his 2018 season,[85] after only 8 games and 40 innings pitched, in which he was 1–3 with a 4.95 ERA.[73]

Darvish in 2019 for the Cubs was 6–8 with a 3.98 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 31 starts.[86] 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.[87]

In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Darvish was 8–3 with a 2.01 ERA.[73] He led the National League in wins, was second in ERA, walks per nine innings pitched (1.658), and home runs per nine innings pitched (0.592), fourth in WHIP (0.961), fifth in won-loss percentage (.727), seventh in hits per nine innings pitched (6.987), and eighth in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (11.013).[88]

On December 29, 2020, Darvish along with personal catcher Víctor Caratini were traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for pitcher Zach Davies and four prospects.[89]

Named the ace of the Japanese national team by manager Senichi Hoshino in the 2008 Beijing Olympics,[90] Darvish took the hill in Japan's first game of the preliminary round against Cuba on 13 August, but was charged with the loss after giving up four runs in 4 innings.[91] The subpar outing caused Hoshino to lose faith in him and scratch Darvish from the 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 last game of the preliminary round against the United States on 20 August and was brought in to mop up after the U.S. had taken a decisive lead in the bronze medal match, finishing the tournament 0–1 with a 5.14 ERA (albeit with 10 strikeouts in seven innings pitched).

Darvish pitched in the 2009 World Baseball Classic as the de facto ace of the Japanese national team,[92] starting the opening game against China on 5 March. He pitched four innings, allowing one walk and no hits and striking out three as Japan beat China, 4–0. However, pitching in a Major League stadium for the first time in his career, he struggled in his second outing of the tournament against South Korea on 17 March, throwing five innings and giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk and ultimately being charged with the loss.[93] His first career save would follow six days later, when he pitched the final inning of the semi-finals against the United States, yielding no runs and a single and striking out two as Japan won 9–4.[94]

Darvish came on in relief in the bottom of the ninth inning of the 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 tournament title.[95] In the WBC he finished at 2–1 with a 2.08 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 13 innings. He recorded a career-high 99 mph when he worked in relief at the WBC.[96]

Darvish, along with Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, chose not to play in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.