Padres News: RHP Yu Darvish May Not Be Ready For Opening Day
If you've been following the San Diego Padres recently, you know just how up-and-down the news surrounding the team has been. For those who haven't, the Friars have been able to get a better understanding of what their team will look like in the 2023 season. Some of their most important pieces have returned from the World Baseball Classic and have fit right back in.
However, it is looking like San Diego will not be at full strength to start the year as a number of injuries have plagued the team in the past few days and puts their original plans in jeopardy. Players such as Juan Soto and Austin Nola have yet to be given a timeline to return but both should be kept an eye on as the Padres lean heavily on both of their talents.
And to add to the Padres coaching staff's lists of adjustments to make, they now will potentially have to prepare to hit the field at Petco Park on March 30 without their premier pitcher Yu Darvish. The RHP is still with Team Japan in pursuit of a World title and he is not sure if his body will be ready to endure starting the first game for San Diego.
This update was provided by USA Today's Bob Nightengale.
"Yu Darvish says he’s keeping in touch with the #Padres but that he’s unsure whether he’ll be fully built up and ready for opening day."
(Via Bob Nightengale)
This is definitely not the news that Bob Melvin and the rest of the Friars' staff wanted to hear but it is important for them to take Darvish's safety factors into consideration He has been in the MLB since 2012 and knows what his arm can take on the mound.
The Padres are still closely examining what goes on in Spring Training to see if anybody can potentially grab a starting spot or help out of the bullpen. Joe Musgrove is still fighting his way back from a foot injury and Craig Stammen's future in the league is up in the air.
Darvish is one of the best pitchers in the league, however, and it shouldn't take him too long to ramp up his workload and suit up for his franchise.
