ANAHEIM — One of many best particular person seasons in Main League historical past formally got here to an early finish on Saturday, as two-way celebrity Shohei Ohtani was positioned on the 10-day injured record with a strained proper indirect. He’ll miss the remainder of the season.
Ohtani’s locker was cleaned out after Friday’s 11-2 loss to the Tigers, the eleventh straight sport that he was held out of the lineup. He initially sustained his indirect harm on a swing whereas taking batting follow on Sept. 4. He remained each day and was even within the lineup on Monday in Seattle earlier than being scratched.
The choice is smart, particularly contemplating Ohtani additionally tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his proper elbow on Aug. 23. He’s additionally already thought-about a lock to win the AL MVP Award for the second time in three years. Ohtani is anticipated to wish surgical procedure for the UCL tear, though there’s an opportunity he might keep away from a second Tommy John surgical procedure as a result of the tear is in a distinct a part of his UCL than in 2018. There ought to be extra readability in a while Saturday.
However both means, it places a brand new wrinkle on his upcoming free company, as he isn’t prone to pitch in 2024, particularly if he undergoes Tommy John surgical procedure. Ohtani, although, remains to be anticipated to command a report deal in free company due to his distinctive two-way prowess. His agent, Nez Balelo, mentioned Ohtani can be able to hit on Opening Day in 2024, even when he undergoes surgical procedure.
Ohtani, 29, had the very best offensive season of his six-year profession and batted .304/.412/.654 with 44 homers, eight triples, 26 doubles, 95 RBIs, 102 runs and 20 stolen bases in 135 video games. He leads the AL in homers, triples and walks. He additionally performed in 10 video games as designated hitter after struggling his UCL tear, as he wished to stay within the lineup. He was held out of the lineup simply twice through the season earlier than sustaining his indirect harm.
On the mound, Ohtani went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings. However he didn’t get to 162 innings, so he is not going to rank amongst certified beginning pitchers like he did final 12 months, when he posted a 2.33 ERA in a career-high 166 innings.
But it surely was nonetheless one other unimaginable season that noticed Ohtani win World Baseball Traditional MVP honors in main Crew Japan to the title, and he was additionally named an All-Star as a pitcher and a hitter for the third straight season. And after six years with the Angels, his future with the membership is unsure, as he’s heading into free company over the offseason.
