Shohei Ohtani’s season is over, expected to have elbow procedure soon
Los Angeles Angels megastar Shohei Ohtani’s season officially came to an end on Saturday. Ohtani was placed on the injured list with a right oblique strain.
The Japanese phenomenon injured his oblique while taking batting practice at Angel Stadium on Sept. 4, where he was scratched prior to the game.
Ohtani was spotted leaving Angel Stadium around 4 p.m. PT on Friday. Reports surfaced that the two-way player cleaned out his locker.
The plan now is for Ohtani to focus on treating his torn ulnar collateral ligament, according to Angels general manager Perry Minasian.
"I don't have details on the procedure," Minasian said, "but obviously he wants to get that as quick as he can and start getting ready for '24."
There’s been speculation that Ohtani could use use platelet-rich plasma and stem-cell therapy to treat the tear in his right UCL. Any invasive procedure would likely rule out Ohtani as a pitcher next season.
"Shohei -- he's one of a kind," Minasian said. "Great player, great person. I think anybody that knows him, has a chance to talk to him, be around him -- he's a team guy. He's a pretty special guy, he's a pretty special player, and it's been a pleasure to get to know him these last three years and hopefully he's here for a long time."
Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo said that his client intends to play in 2024.
"Shohei's gonna be in somebody's lineup next year DH-ing when the bell rings," Balelo said earlier this month. “There’s not one thing he can’t do right now when it comes to DH-ing. He can lift, he can run, he can slide, take violent swings. He can do anything he wants right now. It doesn’t affect the problem in question.”
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