SAN DIEGO — Fresh off taking two of three games from the Rangers, the San Diego Padres will activate right-handed pitcher Yu Darvish from the injured list to make his season debut Monday night at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Japanese star has been sidelined since spring training by right elbow inflammation.

Monday, in his 2025 debut, the broad-shouldered, fifth-year Padre showed enough fastball to shorten reaction times and play up his other pitches. The best age-and-workload comparison to Darvish is Clayton Kershaw, his friend and former Dodgers teammate.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish is set to make baseball history for Japanese players on Monday night when he returns from a season-long injury. Yu Darvish is expected to make his season debut today, which would mark his 13th MLB season with at least one pitch thrown.