Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish will not participate in World Baseball Classic

Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish said he will not participate in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Texas Rangers pitcher Yu Darvish informed the team on Tuesday that he will not pitch for Japan in the next year's World Baseball Classic. The WBC will be held from March 2 to 19.

"After much deliberation, which has included a lot of consultation with my coaches and trainers, I have decided that I will not play in the upcoming World Baseball Classic," he said in a statement. "This was a very difficult decision for me as it is always a tremendous honor to represent my native country of Japan. I greatly enjoyed being a part of the 2009 Championship ballclub and I will be supporting this year’s team as they look to defend their title."

Darvish pitched 191 1/3 innings, going 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA in 29 starts during the 2012 regular season for the Rangers and was a member of the Japanese team that won the Classic in 2009. The Rangers released a statement saying they supported Darvish's decision.

"My ultimate goal is to help win a World Series with the Texas Rangers and to share that accomplishment with the great baseball fans in Japan,” Darvish said.