Rangers Ace Yu Darvish Opts for Tommy John Surgery, will miss 2015 Season

By Cheri Cheng - 13 Mar '15 16:15PM

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish has opted to undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow.

The team announced in a press release that Darvish will miss the entire 2015 season and possibly even the beginning of the 2016 season since the recovery period for this type of surgery is 10 to 12 months. His operation, which will be done by Dr. James Andrews, is scheduled for Tuesday in Gulf Breeze, Florida.

According to USA TODAY Sports, the 28-year-old decided to have the elbow ligament replacement surgery after discussing his MRI results with Dr. Andrews. The MRI had revealed partially torn ligaments as well as inflammation. Two other doctors reportedly also recommended Tommy John surgery.

Darvish first felt discomfort and tightness in his triceps during his spring training debut. He threw 12 pitches, 10 of which were strikes, before he notified the Rangers of his pain. In 2014, Darvish was sidelined for the last two months of the season due to elbow inflammation.

Darvish, who was a starting pitcher in Japan, signed a massive six-year deal worth $56 million with the Rangers in 2012. Since then, Darvish, who is considered by many to be Japan's best pitcher, has lived up to expectations.

His record is 39-25 and his ERA is 3.27 ERA in 545 innings. He has held opponents to a .216 batting averages and has a strikeout rate of 11.2 per nine innings, which is ranked as the highest out of all active starters in the league.

In his first season, Darvish came in third in the American League Rookie of the Year ballot. In his second season, he came in second in the AL CY Young Award. He led the league in strikeouts with 277 and was fourth in the AL in ERA at 2.83. In 2014, he became the first pitcher in MLB history to reach the 500-strikeout mark in the least amount of innings pitched.

Darvish is due $10 million in base salary this season and is owed $10 million in 2016. He is signed through the 2017 season and will make $11.8 million. The 2017 season could become a player option if Darvish wins the 2016 AL Cy Young Award, according to ESPN.com.