Padres' Darvish concerned about preparation after WBC

Fresh off winning the World Baseball Classic with Japan, San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish said he's concerned about how prepared he'll be to handle a normal workload at the start of the MLB season.

"It's (a) little bit concerning just because it was a unique sort of spring training," Darvish said, according to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Darvish made three appearances for Japan, posting a 1-0 record with a 6.00 ERA over six outings (one start).

"Team Japan was trying to win the whole thing there, and because of those reasons, I wasn't able to build up as I would if you're in a regular spring training," he said. "So there is a little bit (of) concern there."

The Padres signed the 36-year-old to a six-year, $108-million extension earlier in the offseason.

Darvish enjoyed a stellar 2022 campaign. He went 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA and 197 strikeouts across 194 2/3 innings.