Yu Darvish

1.1. Birth and Family Background

Yu Darvish was born Farid Yu Darvish Sefat in Habikino, Osaka, Japan, on August 16, 1986. His mother, Ikuyo, is Japanese, and his father, Farsad Darvish Sefat, is Iranian. His full name, "Farid Yu Darvish Sefat," includes "Yu," which is derived from "Ali," the fourth Rashidun Caliph and the first Imam in Shia Islam, signifying "Invincible Ali." The family name "Darvish Sefat" means "Darvish-like" in Persian. His father, Farsad, was a former professional soccer player who later became an advisor for the Iran Baseball Federation and expanded various businesses. Yu Darvish has two younger brothers, with the youngest, KENTA, being an actor. Despite his mixed heritage, Darvish chose to retain his Japanese citizenship before his 22nd birthday to be eligible to play for the Japanese national team in the Olympics.

1.2. Early Baseball Beginnings

Darvish began playing baseball in second grade. As a member of the Habikino Boys (a Habikino City select soft baseball team), he led his team to the quarterfinals of a national tournament and a third-place finish in an international tournament. His exceptional talent attracted scouting interest from over 50 high schools during his junior high years. He ultimately chose to attend Tohoku High School in Sendai, a renowned baseball powerhouse known for producing professional players like Kazuhiro Sasaki and Takashi Saito. Darvish's early experiences in youth leagues and high school were instrumental in developing his passion for the sport, despite a brief controversy in 2004 when he was caught smoking as a minor, which resulted in a suspension from his high school and probation from the Fighters.

2.1. High School Achievements

Darvish became the ace pitcher for Tohoku High by the fall of his first year. Standing at 77 in ^{(195 cm)}, his powerful fastball was measured close to 93 mph ^{(150 km/h)} even then. He led his team to four consecutive appearances in national tournaments held at Koshien Stadium during his junior and senior years, participating twice in the National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament (spring) and twice in the National High School Baseball Championship (summer). In the summer of 2003, he led his team to the finals of the 85th National High School Baseball Championship but suffered a complete game loss to Joso Gakuin High School, giving up four runs.

Darvish garnered significant national attention when he threw a no-hitter against Kumamoto Technical High School in the first round of the 76th National High School Baseball Invitational Tournament on March 26, 2004, becoming the 12th pitcher in high school baseball history to achieve this feat. Despite his stellar performances, his team lost in the quarter-finals. Throughout his four national tournament appearances, Darvish pitched 12 games, compiling a 7-3 record with 87 strikeouts in 92 innings pitched and a 1.47 ERA. For his entire high school career, he posted an impressive 1.10 ERA, striking out 375 batters in 332 1/3 innings across 67 appearances. He was widely regarded as the "high school No.1 pitcher."

2.2. 2004 NPB Draft

Even during his junior high years, Darvish was scouted by Major League Baseball teams such as the Los Angeles Angels and Atlanta Braves. As he entered his senior year of high school, the Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Mets expressed interest in signing him. However, Darvish's strong intention was to play for a Japanese professional team, driven by a desire to prove his Japanese identity and contribute to Japanese baseball, especially after experiencing discrimination as a mixed-race individual in his childhood.

On November 17, 2004, Darvish was considered one of the top high school pitchers in the NPB amateur draft, alongside Hideaki Wakui and Tsuyoshi Sato. The Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters selected him as their sole first-round pick. On December 17, he signed a contract that included a signing bonus of 100.00 M JPY, a base salary of 15.00 M JPY, and additional performance-based incentives, making it the highest-value contract for a high school graduate since Daisuke Matsuzaka and Hayato Terahara.

3.1. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters (2005-2011)

Darvish's career with the Fighters saw him evolve from a promising rookie into the undisputed ace of Japanese baseball, leading his team to championships and earning numerous individual accolades.

3.1.2. Peak NPB Performance

The 2007 season marked Darvish's emergence as an elite pitcher. He became the Fighters' season opener starter, a rare feat for a pitcher so early in his career. He recorded 14 strikeouts in two consecutive starts in March and April, a rare achievement in Japanese professional baseball. He posted a 15-5 record with a 1.82 ERA, limiting hitters to a .174 batting average against, and leading the league with 210 strikeouts. He led the Fighters to their second consecutive league title, winning both of his starts in the Climax Series against the Chiba Lotte Marines. In Game 1 of the 2007 Japan Series against the Dragons, he pitched a 13-strikeout complete game win in a pitchers' duel with Kenshin Kawakami. Although the Fighters lost the series, Darvish's 24 strikeouts in two starts were the second-highest by any single pitcher in series history. He was awarded his first Eiji Sawamura Award, becoming the first pitcher in 14 years to meet all seven award guidelines. He also received his first Pacific League Most Valuable Player award, becoming the youngest MVP at 21 years old since Eiji Sawamura and Kazuhisa Inao. He also won the Golden Glove and Best Nine awards. He re-signed for 200.00 M JPY, becoming the youngest player in Japanese baseball history to reach that mark.

In 2008, Darvish continued his dominance, pitching a complete game shutout in the season opener. He engaged in a memorable pitcher's duel against Hisashi Iwakuma of the Eagles on April 10, throwing a 3-hit, 95-pitch complete-game shutout. Despite missing time for the Olympics, he finished second in all three Triple Crown categories, with a 16-4 record, 1.88 ERA, and 208 strikeouts. He became only the second pitcher to meet all seven Sawamura Award guidelines but not win the award (which went to Iwakuma). In the Climax Series, he recorded a postseason-record 14 strikeouts in a complete game win against the Orix Buffaloes and a 3-hit shutout against the Lions. He re-signed for 270.00 M JPY, the highest salary for a fifth-year player in Japanese baseball history.

The 2009 season saw Darvish start the Fighters' opener for the third consecutive year. He recorded his first career outdoor stadium shutout against the Buffaloes on April 24 and was named the Pacific League Pitcher of the Month for May. He achieved his 60th career win in his 107th game on July 22, the fastest by a high school graduate since the two-league system began. Despite an All-Star injury and subsequent shoulder and back issues that sidelined him, he returned for the 2009 Japan Series against the Yomiuri Giants. Despite not being fully recovered, he pitched 6 innings, allowing 2 runs, and earned the win in Game 2, effectively using a slow curveball. Post-season medical checks revealed a stress fracture in his right index finger, which he had kept secret. He won his second Pacific League MVP and Best Nine awards, becoming the third player to win two MVP awards within their first five NPB seasons. He signed a contract for 330.00 M JPY, making him the youngest player to reach the 300.00 M JPY mark. He also published "Yu Darvish's Breaking Ball Bible," explaining his pitches.

The 2010 season was another strong individual performance for Darvish, though the Fighters struggled as a team. He achieved a Japanese professional baseball record of five consecutive double-digit strikeout starts from the season's opening. He recorded 31 consecutive scoreless innings from April 24 to May 21. Despite a 12-8 record, he posted a 1.78 ERA, leading the league with 10 complete games, 222 strikeouts, and a 1.01 WHIP. He achieved his fourth consecutive season with an ERA under 2.00, a feat accomplished only once before in NPB history by Kazuhisa Inao in 1959. He also achieved 4 consecutive seasons with an RSAA of 40 or more, a record only matched by Inao. Despite speculation about a move to MLB, he announced his return to the Fighters for 2011, signing a 500.00 M JPY contract, making him the highest-paid player in Japan and the youngest to reach the 500.00 M JPY mark for a starting pitcher.

In 2011, Darvish made history by starting the Fighters' Opening Day for the fifth consecutive year. He reached 1,000 career strikeouts on April 26, the 129th player to do so, and the 7th fastest in terms of innings pitched (1058 2/3 innings). On May 10, he threw a 15-strikeout complete game shutout against Iwakuma. He recorded 46 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings, ranking 11th all-time in NPB history. He finished the season with a career-best 1.44 ERA, 18 wins, 232 innings pitched, 276 strikeouts, and a 0.83 WHIP. He became the first pitcher in both Japanese leagues to record five consecutive seasons with an ERA under 2.00. Despite these accomplishments, he was not awarded the Sawamura Award, which went to Masahiro Tanaka. After the season, Darvish announced his intention to pursue a Major League Baseball career via the posting system.

4.1. Texas Rangers (2012-2017)

Darvish's transition to MLB with the Texas Rangers was highly anticipated, and he quickly established himself as a top pitcher despite facing challenges, including a major injury and a controversial World Series appearance.

4.1.1. MLB Debut and Early Success

Darvish was officially posted to Major League Baseball prior to the 2012 season. The Texas Rangers won the negotiation rights with a reported bid of 51.70 M USD. On January 18, 2012, the Rangers signed Darvish to a six-year, 60.00 M USD contract, fifteen minutes before the deadline.

He made his MLB debut on April 9 against the Seattle Mariners in Texas. Despite giving up four runs in the first inning, he pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing 8 hits and 5 runs while striking out 5, earning his first MLB win. His first MLB strikeout was against Dustin Ackley with an 80 mph curveball, and his first MLB hit allowed was a single by Ichiro Suzuki on a 96 mph fastball. For his performances in April, Darvish was named the AL Rookie of the Month, going 4-0 with a 2.18 ERA and 33 strikeouts. He earned his first career MLB hit on June 20 against the San Diego Padres. On July 5, he was named an All-Star, finishing the first half with 10 wins and five losses with a 3.59 ERA. He finished his rookie season with a 16-9 record in 29 starts.

4.1.2. Performance and Injuries

On April 2, 2013, Darvish pitched a perfect game through 8 2/3 innings against the Houston Astros before giving up a single to Marwin González. He threw 111 pitches, striking out 14 and walking none. On May 27, he became the first pitcher since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling in 2002 to record 100 strikeouts by Memorial Day. On July 10, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained trapezius. On August 12, he pitched a no-hitter through 7 1/3 innings against the Astros before giving up a home run to Carlos Corporán. Darvish struck out a career-high 15 batters in that game. By season's end, he compiled 277 strikeouts in 209 2/3 innings, leading MLB in strikeouts. He finished fourth in the American League with a 2.83 ERA and placed second in the Cy Young Award voting to Max Scherzer.

In his first start of the 2014 season on April 6, Darvish reached his 500th career strikeout in 401 2/3 innings, making him the fastest pitcher to reach 500 strikeouts in terms of innings pitched, surpassing Kerry Wood's record by three innings. On May 9, he carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox before giving up a single to David Ortiz. On June 11, he threw his first complete-game shutout against the Miami Marlins. He was elected to the 2014 MLB All-Star Game.

During 2015 spring training, Darvish experienced soreness in his right triceps, which was diagnosed as a torn UCL, requiring Tommy John surgery on March 17, 2015. This forced him to miss the entire 2015 season. He began the 2016 season on the disabled list, still recovering. He returned on May 28 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching five innings with seven strikeouts and one run allowed. On June 13, he was placed on the disabled list again due to neck and shoulder strains, returning on July 16. On August 24, he hit his first career MLB home run in an away game against the Cincinnati Reds, the first by a Rangers pitcher since Bobby Witt in 1997.

4.2. Los Angeles Dodgers (2017)

On July 31, 2017, the Rangers traded Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers for prospects Willie Calhoun, A. J. Alexy, and Brendon Davis. He was 4-3 with a 3.44 ERA in nine starts for the Dodgers. Overall in 2017, with Texas and L.A., Darvish made 31 starts with a 10-12 record, 209 strikeouts, and a 3.86 ERA.

In the postseason, he won his lone 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, allowing one run in 6 1/3 innings with seven strikeouts.

In the 2017 World Series, Darvish had two exceptionally short and poor starts against the Houston Astros, failing to get out of the second inning in either Game 3 or Game 7. He lost both games, allowing nine runs (eight earned) in 3 1/3 innings and failing to strike out a single batter. These were the shortest two starts of his career, and he became the first starting pitcher since Art Ditmar in the 1960 World Series to have two starts of less than two innings in the World Series. Shortly after the series, an unnamed Astros player suggested Darvish had been tipping his pitches. A Sports Illustrated article later revealed that the Astros had identified his pitch-tipping: "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 knowledge reportedly gave the Astros a significant advantage.

After the season, Darvish became a free agent. With the Houston Astros sign stealing scandal coming to light in January 2020, Darvish refused to blame sign-stealing for his poor World Series starts, instead humorously suggesting he would wear a "Yu Garbage" jersey if the Dodgers held a championship parade, implying he took responsibility for his performance.

4.3. Chicago Cubs (2018-2020)

Darvish's tenure with the Chicago Cubs was initially plagued by injuries and inconsistency, but he experienced a significant resurgence in his final season with the team.

4.3.1. Struggles and Injuries

On February 13, 2018, Darvish signed a six-year, 126.00 M USD contract with the Chicago Cubs. His debut with the Cubs on March 31, 2018, saw him allow 5 runs in 4 1/3 innings. He was placed on the 10-day disabled list twice in May due to the flu and right triceps tendinitis. On August 19, 2018, during a rehab stint, Darvish was removed from the game after warming up for the second inning. An MRI revealed a stress reaction on his right elbow and a triceps strain, ending his 2018 season after only 8 games and 40 innings pitched, where he was 1-3 with a 4.95 ERA.

In 2019, Darvish finished with a 6-8 record, a 3.98 ERA, and 225 strikeouts in 31 starts. He gave up 33 home runs, the most in the National League, threw 11 wild pitches (second-most in the NL), and hit 11 batsmen (third-most in the league).

4.4. San Diego Padres (2021-Present)

Darvish's career with the San Diego Padres has seen him continue to be a prominent pitcher, reaching significant milestones and contributing to the team's success.

4.4.1. Padres Tenure and Milestones

On December 29, 2020, Darvish and his personal catcher Víctor Caratini were traded to the San Diego Padres for pitcher Zach Davies and prospects Owen Caissie, Reginald Preciado, Yeison Santana, and Ismael Mena. In his first year with the Padres in 2021, Darvish posted an 8-11 record with a 4.22 ERA and 199 strikeouts in 166 1/3 innings. He was also named to his fifth All-Star team.

On September 2, 2022, Darvish recorded his 3,000th career strikeout (combined MLB and NPB), becoming only the second Japanese pitcher after Hideo Nomo to reach this milestone. In 30 starts for San Diego in 2022, Darvish had a 16-8 record and 3.10 ERA with 197 strikeouts in 194 2/3 innings pitched. On August 14, 2023, Darvish struck out his 1,919th batter, surpassing Hideo Nomo to become MLB's Japanese-born leader in strikeouts.

5.1. 2008 Beijing Olympics

Darvish was named the ace of the Japanese national team by manager Senichi Hoshino for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He started Japan's first game of the preliminary round against Cuba on August 13 but was charged with the loss after giving up four runs in four innings. Following this subpar outing, Darvish shaved his head as a sign of his commitment and regret, an act that was followed by his teammate Masahiro Tanaka. However, he lost the confidence of manager Hoshino and was only sent to the mound in situations that would not affect Japan's fate in the tournament. He finished the tournament with an 0-1 record and a 5.14 ERA, with 10 strikeouts in seven innings pitched.

5.2. 2009 World Baseball Classic

Darvish pitched in the 2009 World Baseball Classic as the de facto ace of the Japanese national team. He started the opening game against China on March 5, pitching four hitless innings, allowing one walk, and striking out three as Japan won 4-0. In his second outing against South Korea on March 17, he struggled, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk over five innings, ultimately being charged with the loss. He recorded his first career save six days later, pitching the final inning of the semi-finals against the United States, yielding no runs and striking out two as Japan won 9-4.

In the championship game against South Korea, Darvish came on in relief in the bottom of the ninth inning with Japan leading 3-2. He struck out his first batter, walked the next two, struck out another, and then gave up a tying two-out single before finishing the inning with another strikeout. Japan scored two runs in the top of the tenth 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) to clinch Japan's second consecutive tournament title. In the WBC, he finished with a 2-1 record, one blown save, a 2.08 ERA, and 20 strikeouts in 13 innings. He recorded a career-high fastball velocity of 99 mph when working in relief.

5.3. 2023 World Baseball Classic

After not participating in the WBC in 2013 and 2017, Darvish rejoined Japan's roster for the 2023 World Baseball Classic. He earned the win after allowing 3 runs in 3 innings in a start against South Korea. In three games, he allowed 4 earned runs and 3 home runs in 6 innings as Japan won its first WBC title since 2009, marking his second WBC championship.

6.1. Mechanics and Delivery

Darvish is a right-handed pitcher who throws from a three-quarter arm slot using a drop-and-drive motion. He has a large frame, listed at 77 in ^{(196 cm)} and 220 lb ^{(100 kg)}. Despite his large stature, his hands are relatively small, and his arms are short. He often pitches exclusively from the set position, even without runners on base, to maintain consistent delivery and synchronicity. Darvish employs unique training methods, such as throwing left-handed catch to balance his body, and does not use shadow pitching to correct his form, instead relying on his internal sense of body movement.

6.2. Pitch Repertoire

Darvish's extensive pitch repertoire is a hallmark of his style. His primary pitches include a four-seam fastball that averages 93-95 mph (topping out at 99 mph) and a hard slurve (slider) in the low 80s with a sharp break. He complements these with a wide array of secondary pitches:

• A two-seam fastball (also known as a shuuto in Japan), which he began throwing more frequently in 2007.
• A cutter, which he added in 2007, and has been noted for its unique floating movement.
• Two curveballs: a "fast curve" (around 80 mph) used primarily in two-strike counts, and a "slow curve" (around 71 mph) used in no-strike and one-strike counts.
• A splitter, which replaced his screwball after a shoulder injury in 2006.
• An occasional changeup, including a high-speed changeup around 87 mph ^{(140 km/h)} that makes it difficult for batters to differentiate from his fastball.
• A knuckle curve, which he learned from teammate Craig Kimbrel in 2019.
• A "supreme pitch," a hybrid between a splitter and a two-seam fastball, which can reach 93 mph.

Some professional scouts consider Darvish to have the best repertoire of quality pitches, including the best slider, in all of Major League Baseball. His ability to change his most frequent pitch sequences over time makes advance scouting challenging.

6.3. Evolution of Pitching

Darvish's pitching style has continuously evolved throughout his career. In his rookie year (2005), his go-to pitch was a screwball. However, after a shoulder injury in 2006, he removed the screwball from his repertoire due to the strain it placed on his shoulder and developed his splitter as an equally effective replacement. He also increased his fastball velocity for several years in MLB, with his average velocity rising from 92.7 mph in 2012 to 95.9 mph in 2020.

He is known for his willingness to experiment with new pitches, sometimes even using them in games with little prior knowledge, forcing himself to adapt quickly. In 2010, he began throwing a "one-seam fastball" (also known as a "gyro cutter"), a pitch previously unseen from a Japanese pitcher. In 2019 alone, Darvish utilized 10 different pitches in games. While he has been criticized for his walk rate in the past, his control has generally improved. He has also overcome early career struggles in outdoor stadiums, particularly at Chiba Marine Stadium, known for its challenging winds, by adapting his pitching to maintain effectiveness.

7.1. Family and Relationships

In August 2007, Darvish publicly acknowledged his relationship with Japanese model and actress Saeko, announcing her pregnancy. They married on November 11, 2007, and their first son was born in March 2008. Their second son was born in February 2010. The couple's divorce was finalized in January 2012, on the same day Darvish officially signed with the Texas Rangers.

On July 30, 2015, Darvish announced that his girlfriend, former world-champion wrestler Seiko Yamamoto, gave birth to their son on July 29. The couple has since had additional children.

7.2. Philanthropy and Community Involvement

Darvish has a long history of charitable giving, starting at the age of 10 when he donated his allowance money to aid victims of the 1997 Qayen earthquake in his father's native Iran. In February 2007, he established the "Yu Darvish Water Fund" in cooperation with the Japan Water Forum, dedicated to constructing, installing, and maintaining wells, well pumps, and rainwater storage facilities in developing countries. He pledged to contribute 100.00 K JPY to the fund for each regular season win he earned.

Since 2008, he has also donated 100.00 K JPY per win to his hometown of Habikino City, Osaka, with the hope that the funds would benefit children's welfare. In May 2008, Habikino City established the "Yu Darvish Children's Welfare Fund." A portion of this fund was used to create the "Yu Darvish Library" at Habikino City Central Junior High School in December 2009, featuring 31 sports-related books. In 2010, Darvish expressed his desire to fund the construction of a baseball ground in his hometown, with Habikino City announcing plans to complete a hardball-specific baseball field by 2013 using his donations.

In May 2010, he donated 3.00 M JPY to livestock farmers in Miyazaki Prefecture, his then-wife's hometown, who were affected by a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. He further pledged to donate 30.00 K JPY for every out he recorded from his June 19 start, ultimately contributing a total of 9.81 M JPY. For these extensive social contributions, he was awarded the Golden Spirit Award in 2010. Following the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, 2011, Darvish donated 50.00 M JPY to the Japanese Red Cross.

7.3. Personal Interests and Controversies

Darvish's off-field activities include various endorsements and media appearances. His non-baseball rights worldwide are managed by Avex Group Holdings Inc., and he has appeared in advertisements for companies like Seiko, Asahi Breweries, and Pocari Sweat. He has also graced the covers of Japanese men's fashion magazines such as GQ, Men's Non-No, and Gainer, and was named "GQ Man of the Year" in Japan in February 2012. He is sponsored by Japanese sportswear supplier Asics.

In 2018, Darvish purchased a 4.55 M USD home in Evanston, Illinois. His request to construct a a six-foot-high fence around the property and acquire adjacent city-owned land caused controversy among neighbors, who argued it would obstruct their views of Lake Michigan. A lawsuit was filed in March 2019 by neighbors claiming the fence violated an easement and a verbal agreement.

In May 2012, Darvish responded to a Japanese netizen's xenophobic comment on Twitter regarding his enjoyment of Korean food. The netizen criticized his performance, linking it to his consumption of "contaminated Korean food." Darvish publicly admonished the netizen, stating, "If you are 35 years old, act like an adult." The netizen responded with further anti-Korean remarks, to which Darvish did not directly reply.

Darvish has expressed his disinterest in cars and does not possess a driver's license. He also revealed that his career path in baseball was chosen over ice hockey because ice hockey training was too physically demanding for him as a child. He has also stated that as a child, when his father placed a baseball, basketball, and soccer ball at his bedside, he first picked up the baseball. His father, a soccer player, would kick soccer balls to him, but Darvish would always throw them back.

8.1. Awards and Honors

Yu Darvish has received a multitude of awards and honors throughout his career in both NPB and MLB, reflecting his consistent high-level performance:

• NPB Awards:**
  • Most Valuable Player (MVP): 2007, 2009
  • Eiji Sawamura Award: 2007
  • Best Nine Award: 2007, 2009
  • Golden Glove Award: 2007, 2008
  • Pacific League ERA Leader: 2009, 2010
  • Pacific League Strikeout Leader: 2007, 2010, 2011
  • Pacific League Winning Percentage Leader: 2009
  • Asia Series MVP: 2006
  • Climax Series Stage 2 MVP: 2007
  • Japan Series Fighting Spirit Award: 2007
  • Japan Series Outstanding Player Award: 2006
  • Interleague Play Outstanding Player Award (Nippon Life Award): 2009
  • All-Star Game Outstanding Player Award: 2007
  • Flash All-Star Game Outstanding Player Award: 2005
  • Monthly MVP (Pitcher): August 2007, March/April 2008, September 2008, May 2009, May 2011
  • Golden Spirit Award: 2010
  • Hochi Pro Sports Award (Pacific League): 2006
  • Pacific League Special Award: 2011
  • Sapporo Dome MVP: 2005, 2008, 2011
  • Sapporo Dome MVP Special Award: 2007
• MLB Awards:**
  • American League Rookie of the Month: April 2012
  • MLB All-Star: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2021

8.2. Records and Milestones

Darvish has achieved several significant statistical milestones and records in both Japanese and American professional baseball:

• NPB Records:**
  • First professional win as a rookie out of high school: June 15, 2005 (12th pitcher in NPB history)
  • First complete-game shutout as a rookie out of high school: September 18, 2005 (14th pitcher in NPB history)
  • Consecutive official game wins: 12 (May 30, 2006 - April 14, 2007), 5th all-time.
  • Youngest player to reach 200.00 M JPY salary: 21 years old (2007)
  • First pitcher in NPB history to throw a 1-0 complete game shutout with 10+ strikeouts in a season opener: March 20, 2008
  • Most strikeouts in a Climax Series game: 14 (October 11, 2008), a postseason record including Japan Series.
  • Fewest hits allowed in a postseason game: 3 (October 18, 2008)
  • Fastest to 60 career wins as a high school graduate: 107 games (July 22, 2009), surpassing Daisuke Matsuzaka (111 games).
  • Youngest player to reach 300.00 M JPY salary: 23 years old (2009)
  • First pitcher in NPB history to record 5 consecutive double-digit strikeout starts from the season opener: April 17, 2010
  • Consecutive scoreless innings: 46 2/3 (May 10 - June 15, 2011), 11th all-time in NPB, 2nd in Pacific League, Fighters franchise record.
  • First pitcher in both Japanese leagues to record 5 consecutive seasons with an ERA under 2.00: 2007-2011.
  • Career 1,000 strikeouts: April 26, 2011 (129th all-time, 7th fastest in 1058 2/3 innings)
  • Career 1,000 innings pitched: August 28, 2010 (321st all-time)
• MLB Records:**
  • Fastest to 500 strikeouts in terms of innings pitched: 401 2/3 innings (April 6, 2014)
  • Most strikeouts by a Japanese-born pitcher in MLB history: 1,919 (August 14, 2023), surpassing Hideo Nomo.
  • First Japanese-born pitcher to reach 2,000 strikeouts in MLB: September 22, 2024.
  • Longest streak of consecutive games with multiple strikeouts: 280 (September 16, 2024), longest by any player since 1901.
• Combined NPB/MLB Records:**
  • Combined 100 wins: May 27, 2012
  • Combined 3,000 strikeouts: September 2, 2022 (second Japanese pitcher after Hideo Nomo)
  • Combined 200 wins: May 20, 2024 (third Japanese pitcher after Hiroki Kuroda and Hideo Nomo)

  Year	Team	GP	GS	CG	SHO	SV	W	L	WPCT	BF	IP	H	HR	BB	IBB	HBP	SO	BK	R	ER	ERA	WHIP
  2005	Nippon-Ham	14	14	2	1	0	5	5	.500	410	94.1	97	7	48	1	3	52	0	37	37	3.53	1.54
  2006		25	24	3	2	0	12	5	.706	627	149.2	128	12	64	0	6	115	1	55	48	2.89	1.28
  2007		26	26	12	3	0	15	5	.750	790	207.2	123	9	49	1	13	210	0	48	42	1.82	0.83
  2008		25	24	10	2	0	16	4	.800	764	200.2	136	11	44	0	9	208	1	44	42	1.88	0.90
  2009		23	23	8	2	0	15	5	.750	701	182.0	118	9	45	0	6	167	0	36	35	1.73	0.90
  2010		26	25	10	2	0	12	8	.600	805	202.0	158	5	47	0	7	222	0	48	40	1.78	1.01
  2011		28	28	10	6	0	18	6	.750	885	232.0	156	5	36	0	6	276	1	42	37	1.44	0.83
  2012	TEX	29	29	0	0	0	16	9	.640	816	191.1	156	14	89	1	10	221	0	89	83	3.90	1.28
  2013		32	32	0	0	0	13	9	.591	841	209.2	145	26	80	1	8	277	1	68	66	2.83	1.07
  2014		22	22	2	1	0	10	7	.588	605	144.1	133	13	49	1	2	182	1	54	49	3.06	1.26
  2015	TEX	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	0	0.0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.00	0.00
  2016		17	17	0	0	0	7	5	.583	392	100.1	79	11	31	0	3	132	0	40	39	3.41	1.10
  2017		31	31	0	0	0	10	12	.455	744	186.2	161	27	58	0	7	209	0	80	80	3.86	1.17
  2017	LAD	9	9	0	0	0	4	3	.571	206	49.2	39	8	13	0	1	61	0	20	19	3.44	1.05
  2018	CHC	8	8	0	0	0	1	3	.250	175	40.0	35	5	21	0	0	49	0	22	22	4.95	1.40
  2019		31	31	0	0	0	6	8	.429	735	178.2	152	33	33	0	11	229	0	80	79	3.98	1.04
  2020		12	12	0	0	0	8	3	.727	294	76.0	59	5	14	0	1	93	0	17	17	2.01	0.96
  2021	SD	30	30	0	0	0	8	11	.421	690	166.1	150	24	44	0	2	199	0	81	78	4.22	1.17
  2022		30	30	0	0	0	16	8	.667	777	194.2	149	16	37	0	2	197	0	71	67	3.10	0.96
  2023		24	24	0	0	0	8	10	.444	571	136.1	124	18	35	0	2	141	0	72	69	4.56	1.17
  2024		16	16	0	0	0	7	3	.700	337	81.2	67	9	22	0	2	78	0	33	30	3.31	1.10
  NPB Totals (7 seasons)		167	164	55	18	0	93	38	.710	4982	1268.1	916	58	333	2	50	1250	3	310	281	1.99	0.98
  MLB Totals (13 seasons)		240	240	2	1	0	83	62	.573	5710	1352.2	1105	153	384	2	34	1626	1	595	553	3.68	1.09

  • As of the end of the 2024 MLB season. Bold indicates league leader.

8.3. Criticisms and Controversies

Despite his success, Darvish's career has faced its share of criticisms and controversies. His early career in Japan was marked by a public incident of underage smoking, which led to a suspension and probation, highlighting initial concerns about his professionalism.

In MLB, his performance in the 2017 World Series drew significant criticism, particularly his two short starts in Games 3 and 7 against the Houston Astros. While his struggles were later attributed to the Astros' sign-stealing scheme and pitch-tipping, the initial perception of his performance was overwhelmingly negative and contributed to fan ire in Los Angeles. Darvish, however, humorously downplayed the impact of the scandal on his performance, refusing to blame it entirely.

He has also faced occasional criticism regarding his control, with some analysts suggesting he needs to reduce his pitch count per outing. Furthermore, a minor controversy arose in 2012 when he publicly rebuked a Japanese netizen for xenophobic comments on Twitter regarding his consumption of Korean food.

9.1. Baseball Influence

Darvish has significantly influenced baseball in both Japan and Major League Baseball. In Japan, he was the undisputed ace of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, leading them to championships and setting new standards for pitching excellence with his dominant performances and record-breaking statistics. His transition to MLB in 2012 was one of the most anticipated international moves in baseball history, paving the way for other Japanese pitchers to follow.

In MLB, Darvish has consistently been an elite pitcher, known for his extensive pitch repertoire and ability to adapt. He has contributed to the internationalization of the sport, showcasing the talent of Japanese pitchers on the global stage. His achievements, such as leading MLB in strikeouts and reaching significant milestones like 2,000 MLB strikeouts, solidify his place among the top international pitchers in baseball history.

9.2. Cultural and Social Impact

Beyond the diamond, Yu Darvish holds significant cultural and social importance, particularly as a prominent figure representing multiculturalism. Born to a Japanese mother and an Iranian father, his mixed heritage has made him a symbol of diversity in Japanese society and sports. His early experiences with discrimination as a mixed-race child fueled a strong desire to prove his Japanese identity and contribute to Japanese baseball, initially leading him to prioritize playing in Japan over MLB.

His philanthropic efforts, such as the "Yu Darvish Water Fund" and his consistent donations to his hometown and other causes, demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and community involvement. These actions have earned him recognition, including the Golden Spirit Award, highlighting his positive influence beyond his athletic prowess. Darvish serves as an inspiration for aspiring athletes, particularly those from multicultural backgrounds, showcasing that talent and dedication can overcome societal challenges and lead to global success.