Yu Darvish Becomes First Japanese MLB Pitcher with 2,000 Strikeouts

Yu Darvish made history on Sunday as the first Japanese-born pitcher to surpass 2,000 career strikeouts in Major League Baseball, achieving this milestone by striking out Luis Robert Jr. during the Padres' 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox. In his fourth start since returning from a lengthy absence due to injuries, Darvish pitched 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out nine batters, tying his season-high strikeouts. This achievement adds to his already impressive total of 3,253 strikeouts across MLB and Nippon Professional Baseball. Darvish expressed gratitude for his longevity in the game, attributing his success to the support he has received throughout his career. He is now just one win shy of tying Hiroki Kuroda for the most combined career wins by a Japanese pitcher, with 202 overall. With a current record of 6-3 and a 3.18 ERA this season, Darvish appears to be on track to further solidify his legacy as one of the greatest pitchers from Japan.