Shohei Ohtani’s torn UCL will have massive ramifications on his future, MLB: Blum

ANAHEIM, Calif — Shohei Ohtani stood at second base in the bottom of the ninth inning late Wednesday night. He’d advanced on defensive indifference and represented the futile final hope on a depressing day at Angel Stadium. They were about to get swept in a day-night doubleheader against the Reds. And Ohtani stood there, at the center of the field, for everyone to see.

Ohtani knew something that none of the thousands of fans who paid to see him play were aware of. Imaging done hours prior had shown he’d torn the UCL in his pitching elbow. That his lucrative long-awaited free agency had been severely compromised.

“Obviously it’s disappointing news. I feel terrible for him,” Angels GM Perry Minasian said. “But it is what it is. And if anybody can bounce back, it’s him.”

The Angels will still get a second opinion. However, a torn UCL would likely result in Tommy John surgery, which would be the second for Ohtani. He needed the surgery in 2018. And now he’s staring down the very real possibility of not pitching again until 2025.

(Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images)

The biggest story in the sport all season has not been about what’s taking place on the field. Not the downtrodden Yankees or the upstart Rangers. Not the historically good offense in Atlanta or the historically bad everything in Oakland.

It’s been about what might happen with the Angels’ two-way unicorn. First, it was the potential of a trade. Would the hard-luck Angels part ways with Ohtani in order to jumpstart a much-needed rebuild? Next, it was the potential free agency figures. Would he command a record $500 million? Maybe even $600 million or higher than $700 million?

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There was no way to know what the market value would be as Ohtani raced toward the most intriguing contract season in the history of sport, not just this sport. Rampant speculation filled the void.

Minasian said they had no idea he was dealing with this until Wednesday. He stated that this was an injury that occurred while Ohtani was pitching against Cincinnati. But it’s unclear if any of the arm fatigue that forced Ohtani to miss his last start was related to this injury.

The Angels GM said he didn’t know what pitch the injury occurred on. And he indicated, without expressly stating, that no imaging had been done in between his last start.

Ohtani was not made available to the media following either game, and has not spoken to reporters in multiple weeks.

If he does need surgery, it could potentially cost him hundreds of millions in a free-agent contract. It is possible to return to form after a second Tommy John — and Ohtani is already known for being somewhat superhuman — but it’s impossible to understate the uncertainty this adds to the equation. Uncertainty that will translate directly into dollars.

Minasian said Ohtani handled it like a pro. Ohtani simply asked if he was good to hit in the second game of the doubleheader. He was, and went 1-for-5, with a double and a strikeout.

The Angels dropped the reins that held Ohtani back in 2021. The decision coincided with Minasian’s hire. He’s been an aggressive GM in all facets, not one to hold back a good minor leaguer from a call-up. Not one to avoid DFA’ing a failing superstar. And not one to hold back a two-way phenom from showcasing his unique abilities in the way he wanted.

All of that led to this moment. And it’s possibly fair to second guess whether the Angels should have proactively reined Ohtani in more at times, especially as he dealt with arm fatigue in recent weeks.

It’s fair to criticize the team for not trading Ohtani at the 2022 trade deadline. Or last offseason. Or this trade deadline. Their attempts to contend have come up seismically short. They’re 5-16 since the trade deadline, completely out of contention with a week left in August.

“You feel like you’re in games, and one little mistake and it gets away from you,” Nevin said after the sweep was complete.

The difference in these games, however, is not one little mistake. But that doesn’t matter now. In the bigger picture, it’s a cluster of mistakes and some horrendous luck that led Minasian onto that podium late Wednesday to deliver the shocking news.

This is about something much, much bigger than the Angels. Ohtani is a global superstar. A true celebrity, recognizable across the world in a way so few players in this sport have been.

He generates $40 million in endorsements, according to Sportico. That’s eight times more than any other baseball player. Angel Stadium is a shrine to his prowess. Almost every giveaway is Ohtani-themed. The fans that go to see this miserable team go to see him.

That is what he brings to this game. And that is what this injury jeopardizes, at least in some form. He might still hit throughout this potential recovery. That is still up in the air, Minasian said. How much he hits, or if he hits at all.

Ohtani was going to dictate the free-agent market. He was going to be the big domino that needed to fall. Teams have likely been formulating plans to recruit him, to save up financially for him.

Perhaps that will still be the case. But it will not be the same.

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Ohtani’s potential recovery from a second Tommy John surgery could take longer. That’s a risk with having the procedure a second time. Great pitchers have come back from it. Nathan Eovaldi is one, though his surgeries were nine years apart. Jameson Taillon has also had the surgery twice. There is a precedent.

He’s still just 29 years old. This shouldn’t end his reign as a Cy Young-caliber starter.

For nearly three seasons, Ohtani captivated this sport in a way no one else ever has. He built everyone up for this offseason, the ultimate reward for his otherwordly accomplishments. And now, both Ohtani and the game will suffer the consequences of this injury.

(Top photo: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images)