Occasionally, when encountering a famous athlete, you might not have anything for them to sign, but you don’t want to miss the opportunity. This is what a San Diego Padres fan experienced upon meeting starter Yu Darvish at a Home Depot.
Evidently, a fan requested that Darvish autograph a paint mixer stick, and the Padres pitcher happily complied.
Yu Darvish’s 2024 season has been difficult. Despite his solid performance on the mound (4-3, 3.20 ERA, 53 K, 1.07 WHIP), he’s been on the injured list twice. Currently still on the injured list, Darvish has been moved to the restricted list by the San Diego Padres, drawing fans’ attention.
my brother ran into Yu Darvish at Home Depot and had him sign a paint mixer stick pic.twitter.com/JTwu7TpbUj
— coleture (@ColeLantz) July 18, 2024
Initially sidelined by a groin injury, Darvish is now on the restricted list to handle an unspecified family issue. Although he seemed close to returning, his status is now uncertain, with the Padres not providing a timetable for his return.
Fans hope Darvish’s off-field issue isn’t serious and that he can return soon. However, the Padres’ approach suggests it’s unlikely he’ll be back on the mound in the near future.
This is yet another setback for Darvish this season, as he was already on the injured list, working to return to the field. Now, he must address personal matters before he can fully concentrate on regaining his health.
The duration of his absence is uncertain, but since the Padres have not provided a timetable, it seems likely that he will be out for an extended period.
