Rangers ace Yu Darvish will likely need Tommy John surgery

Yu Darvish left his start Thursday after just one inning, and the Texas Rangers' worst fears may be realized.

The team announced Saturday morning that Darvish has a sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and that Tommy John surgery is one of his options.

Darvish and the club will consult other orthopedic surgeons before deciding on a course of action.

Texas general manager Jon Daniels said Darvish could try to pitch through the injury, rest it for up to four months or have the surgery.

"The concern with the first two options is, are you delaying the inevitable?" Daniels said.

It's a major blow for the Rangers who were hoping to bounce back after finishing with the American League's worst record in 2014. The team suffered a devastating number of injuries, setting the record for most players used in a single season.

Darvish went 10-7 with a 3.06 ERA in 2014, but didn't pitch after Aug. 9 last season due to elbow issues.

"I will be disappointed if I have to miss the season, but I want to look at all the options including getting a second opinion, before I make a final decision," Darvish said. "In the meantime, my heart is with my teammates, and our focus remains on accomplishing our goals for the season."

The 28-year-old has been an All-Star in each of his three MLB seasons. His best year was 2013, when he posted a 2.83 ERA with 277 strikeouts in 209 2/3 innings.

"Given the news, he's handled it extremely well," Daniels said. "He's very pragmatic about it. He's talking to the people he's close to before making a decision."

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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