How Padres' Yu Darvish plans to help Shohei Ohtani, Samurai Japan at World Baseball Classic

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish will not participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. In fact, Darvish, 39, will miss the entire Major League Baseball season following UCL repair surgery. 

The Japanese right-hander dismissed a report that stated he was retiring from professional baseball, but his future remains unclear. He has three years and $46 million remaining on a six-year extension he signed with the Padres. 

Despite his inability to take the mound, Samurai Japan announced that they have hired Darvish to be an advisor to the team for next month's WBC. 

2026年3月開催の「2026 WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC™」に向けて行われる、侍ジャパン宮崎春季キャンプ2026に、「WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC™」に過去2大会で優勝経験のある、サンディエゴ・パドレスのダルビッシュ有選手が、チームのアドバイザーとして参加することが決まりましたので、お知らせします。…

Darvish is a baseball legend in Japan 

Headlining Japan's roster for the WBC are Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Yusei Kikuchi, and Padres reliever Yuki Matsui. 

Darvish is well respected by his former WBC teammates and in the Japanese baseball community. Before he arrived in the United States, many people considered him to be the best pitcher in Asia. Darvish was a five-time All-Star and two-time Pacific League MVP in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters. 

If Darvish's advising role with Samurai Japan goes successfully, it may spark a post-playing career for the five-time MLB All-Star. 

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