Shohei Ohtani’s efforts to make a comeback
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Shohei Ohtani’s efforts to make a comeback from his oblique injury were officially halted on Saturday as the Los Angeles Angels revealed that he has been added to the injured list and will be unavailable for the remainder of the season.
Ohtani, a strong contender for a second American League Most Valuable Player award in three years, experienced an injury to his right oblique during an outdoor batting practice session on September 4th. Subsequently, he was absent from the lineup for the following 11 games.
Ohtani’s torn ulnar collateral ligament
As for Ohtani’s torn ulnar collateral ligament, which concluded his pitching season at the end of August, his camp has not yet made a decision or at least publicly disclosed their plan of action.
Becoming a free agent at the conclusion of the season, Ohtani was seen departing Angel Stadium around 4 p.m. PT on Friday, as witnessed by two individuals. After the game, it was evident that his locker had been mostly cleared out.
Ahead of his team’s 9 p.m. ET matchup against the Detroit Tigers, Angels’ general manager Perry Minasian is expected to hold a media briefing.
Ohtani delivered yet another remarkable season
At 29 years of age, Ohtani delivered yet another remarkable season, despite its abrupt ending. He posted an impressive .304/.412/.654 slash line and led the American League in home runs (44), walks (91), and total bases (325) as a hitter.
Additionally, as a pitcher, he achieved a 10-5 record with a 3.14 ERA over 132 innings, striking out 167 batters while issuing 55 walks. Remarkably, even though he could pitch and hit for only about five out of six months, Ohtani’s 9.0 FanGraphs wins above replacement clearly topped the charts across the majors.
Ohtani has remained silent in the public eye since August 9, which was his final complete start before discovering his UCL tear when he returned to the mound 14 days later.
Ohtani Dual Role – Pitcher and Hitter
According to his agent, Nez Balelo from CAA, on September 4, Ohtani is committed to resuming his dual role as a player—both pitching and hitting. Regardless of the procedure he ultimately undergoes on his elbow, Ohtani is determined to be prepared to step up to the plate “when the bell rings” to commence the 2024 season.
