Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani has a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) and will not pitch the rest of the season, Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday night. Here’s what you need to know:
- Minasian said it is unclear whether Ohtani’s right elbow injury will require surgery: “A tough day for him. Tough day for all of us.” He also said outfielder Mike Trout will return to the injured list.
- Ohtani exited his start earlier Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds after 1 1/3 innings with arm fatigue.
- The two-way star’s ERA sits at 3.14 through 132 innings this year and he leads MLB with 44 home runs.
- The injury news is especially significant as the Angels went all-in around Ohtani, who hits free agency after this season.
Shohei Ohtani was removed from today's game with arm fatigue.
— Angels PR (@LAAngelsPR) August 23, 2023
The Athletic’s instant analysis:
What this means for Los Angeles
In terms of the Angels’ season, it doesn’t mean much. Their playoff hopes are dead and buried. For Ohtani and his impending free agency, this could be significant.
He’s dealt with various issues on the mound this year. Fatigue, and a nagging blister, have compromised many of his starts and have forced early exits. He’ll command a record salary regardless in free agency. But his long-term ability to be an elite starting pitcher and a hitter has to be in every team’s calculation.
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Ohtani has done everything for the Angels this season. Best hitter, best pitcher. Best everything on a team that’s going nowhere. Perhaps this is a sign it’s catching up to him. — Blum
What’s next for Ohtani, Angels?
It all seemed like a fun bad idea when the Angels opted not to trade Ohtani at the deadline, instead opting to push all their chips to the center of the table to try to make the postseason in what was likely the two-way star’s last season in Anaheim.
The odds were always that they would lose the hand, but what has happened since has been more like throwing up all over the poker table, blacking out, hitting your head on the floor and then losing the hand. One was a bad outcome, the other sucks for everyone in the vicinity.
The Angels were already dead in the water. Now the entire sport is left to wonder if this UCL tear will require a second Tommy John surgery (Ohtani had his first in October of 2018). Worse for him, it’s coming just as he enters free agency.
The sport is so much better with Ohtani doing unicorn things. He’s an unprecedented player, and this winter was going to see him sign an unprecedented contract.
Now? Who knows? We wait to hear more from the Angels’ medical staff. — Weaver
Backstory
Ohtani threw 26 pitches, striking out two batters and walking one before exiting Wednesday’s game. He hit his 44th home run of the season in the first inning. Nolan Schanuel pinch-hit for Ohtani at designated hitter in the third inning.
The start marked Ohtani’s first since Aug. 9; his last start was also skipped due to fatigue.
The Angels activated Trout off the IL before Tuesday’s game, but he is still dealing with “soreness” related to a wrist injury that kept him out of both games of a doubleheader against the Reds on Wednesday, Minasian said.
Required reading
- The Angels went all-in around Shohei Ohtani. In just three weeks it unraveled
- Angels pitching was supposed to be a strength, but it’s at the root of their struggles
- The Angels have many issues. Manager Phil Nevin isn’t one of them: Blum
(Photo: Orlando Ramirez / USA Today)