Description
'Injury' Ohtani Ends Season Early... “I Decided to Get Elbow Surgery”
The type of surgery is unknown... It is unlikely that a pitcher will return in the 2024 season.
Otani, who became a free agent, said, “He can play full-time as a designated hitter next season.” 카지노사이트원
Major League Baseball (MLB) superstar Shohei Ohtani (29, Los Angeles Angels) will end this season early and go to the operating table to treat a right elbow injury.
The Angels team announced on the 16th (local time) that Ohtani has been placed on the 10-day injured list (IL), officially ending the season early, and that he will miss the remaining games.
Minassian Angels general manager Perry said at a press conference held at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California, that day, "Ohtani is feeling constant irritation in his right side muscles," and added, "We have decided to end this season."
He added, "Ohtani has decided to undergo elbow surgery for next season.
However, I do not know whether the surgery will be elbow ligament joint surgery (Tommy John surgery) or another surgery."
Regardless of the type of surgery, Shohei Ohtani decided to have a scalpel applied to his elbow, making it difficult for him to play as a pitcher next season.
Ohtani's price is also expected to drop.
Ohtani, who will become a free agent after this season, was expected to sign an astronomical contract worth more than 500 million dollars (about 665 billion won), the first in MLB history.
However, if he undergoes Tommy John surgery, he will need more than a year of rehabilitation, and even if he undergoes another surgery, it seems difficult for him to return as a pitcher in the 2024 season.
It is unclear whether he will ever regain his former prowess as a pitcher.
Ohtani's side is defending the player's value, emphasizing that he will be able to play as a hitter next season.
Otani's agent, Nezu Valero, told the Associated Press, "Even if he undergoes surgery, he will be able to play full time as a designated hitter next season."
Ohtani actually had experience playing a season as a hitter after undergoing elbow surgery.
Ohtani, who underwent his first Tommy John surgery in 2018, played only as a hitter in the 2019 season and had a batting average of 0.286, 18 home runs, and 62 RBIs in 106 games.
Ohtani resumed his two-batting career in earnest in the 2021 season, and rewrote baseball history last season by completing both regulation innings and regulation at-bats.
Ohtani performed at his best this year before his injury.
He led Japan to victory at the World Baseball Classic (WBC) last March and received the tournament's Most Valuable Player Award (MVP), and also achieved the best results while serving as both a pitcher and hitter in the MLB regular league.
As of the 16th, he ranked 4th in American League batting (batting average 0.304), 1st in home runs (44), tied for 4th in RBIs (95), and 2nd in on-base percentage + slugging percentage (OPS), and started 23 games as a pitcher, 10 of them.
He achieved MVP-level performance with 5 wins and 5 losses and an ERA of 3.14.
However, Ohtani was diagnosed with right elbow ligament damage in late August and suspended his pitching activities.
On the 5th, he injured his right side muscle during batting training and was unable to play as a batsman.
On the 16th, a large bag of luggage was placed in front of Otani's locker, and local media predicted the possibility of an early end to the season.
With Ohtani out for the season, his association with the Angels comes to an end.
After playing for five years in Japanese professional baseball, Ohtani joined the Los Angeles Angels through the posting system in December 2017.
At the time, Ohtani received love calls from 27 MLB teams, but he chose the Angels, who guaranteed that there would be no restrictions on his ability to double as a pitcher.
The Angels expressed their intention to catch Ohtani.
“I think Ohtani had a great time with the Angels,” Minassian general manager said.
“I hope he stays.”