ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Yu Darvish’s season is over.
Texas Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said Saturday the 28-year-old left-hander won’t pitch again this year.
The three-time All-Star has not appeared in a game since Aug. 9 due to elbow inflammation.
Texas began Saturday a major league-worst 53-88 and sees little reason to rush back the pitcher.
“That would be silly on our part,” Daniels said. “There’s just not much to be gained from it at this point.”
Daniels said Darvish has made some progress recently and no longer feels pain, but he hasn’t been cleared by team physician Dr. Keith Meister to resume throwing. Daniels said there is no tear or sprain.
Darvish said he has accepted the club’s decision, though he’s disappointed.
“I think we’ve all made the right decision in shutting it down,” he said through a translator. “Even if I wanted, the medical staff are experts in what they do, so I have to go by what they say. I’m glad that we were able to detect this at the early stage.”
Darvish said he doesn’t plan to alter his offseason routine, and he is sure he’ll be ready for spring training in February.
Daniels plans for Darvish to get an MRI before leaving for Japan following the season.
“Hopefully, at that point it’ll be clear, and we will have him start throwing, stretch out a little bit, just for peace of mind for him and for us,” he said.
Darvish finished 10-7 with a 3.06 ERA and 182 strikeouts in 22 starts.
After leaving Japan to sign a $56 million, six-year contract with the Rangers, he was 16-9 with a 3.90 ERA and 221 strikeouts in 2012, then led the major leagues with 277 strikeouts last year while going 13-9 with a 2.83 ERA.
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