Yuki Matsui

Matsui has no MLB appearances through April 27, 2026 — he is rehabbing and working back through Triple-A El Paso. Reports indicate game appearances at the minor league level have resumed and a May return to the active roster is expected. His career stats and previous season logs are available in the stats section on this page.

Matsui has zero MLB appearances through April 27, 2026 — he opened the season on the IL and is rehabbing at Triple-A El Paso. Reports indicate minor league game appearances have resumed, with a May return to the active roster expected. In his first two MLB seasons (2024-2025), he logged 60+ appearances each year as a left-handed specialist; that role is waiting for him once cleared.

Matsui recorded 200+ career saves as the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles closer before joining the Padres in 2024. In his first two MLB seasons he made 60+ appearances each year as a left-handed reliever, primarily a left-on-left specialist with setup-inning usage. With Yu Darvish also rehabbing in 2026 (Tommy John, mid-2027 target), Matsui's May return matters to the Padres' bullpen depth — he projects directly back into high-leverage left-handed match-up situations once cleared.

Matsui is a left-handed relief pitcher (bullpen) for the San Diego Padres. He is most valuable as a left-handed specialist — his effectiveness against left-handed hitters makes him a high-leverage weapon in the late innings. The Padres also use him in setup situations and multi-out appearances when match-ups align.

Yuki Matsui was born on October 21, 1995, making him 30 years old during the 2026 MLB season. He joined the Padres in 2024 after a decorated NPB career with the Tohoku Rakuten Eagles, where he accumulated 200+ career saves as their closer.

Matsui's greatest MLB asset is his effectiveness against left-handed batters. His tight breaking ball and deceptive arm angle create natural movement away from left-handed swings, generating weak contact and strikeouts. This left-on-left dominance is the primary reason the Padres have kept him on their roster across two seasons and why his return from injury is important to their bullpen construction.

As of April 27, 2026, Matsui is progressing through a rehab assignment at Triple-A El Paso and a May return to the active Padres roster is expected. His injury status and return timeline are updated on this page as new information becomes available.

Matsui is currently rehabbing and has no MLB appearances through April 27, 2026. His latest rehab outings at Triple-A El Paso, return timeline, and Padres roster updates are surfaced in the stats box at the top of this page and on the dedicated "Today" page. A May return to the active Padres roster is expected.

View Yuki Matsui's today status→

Yuki Matsui plays for the San Diego Padres as a left-handed relief pitcher. He signed a 5-year deal with San Diego in 2024 and is in year 3 of that contract in 2026. After rehabbing through April, he is expected to return as a left-handed specialist / setup option in the Padres bullpen — a role he established with 60+ appearances in each of his first two MLB seasons.