Shohei Ohtani threatens a long break. According to a media report, the rookie pitcher of the Los Angeles Angels will probably have to undergo a Tommy John surgery. That would cost him the rest of this season and probably the entire next one.
As Pedro Gomez of ESPN reported on Monday, the Angels expect Ohtani to undergo an elbow reconstruction.
“All I’m hearing is that the reality is that he probably needs a Tommy John surgery. The best time to see him – if he actually undergoes surgery – is in the 2020 season,” Gomez told SportsCenter.
Gomez admitted that the Angels still had slight hopes that Ohtani would get around the operation, but this was probably not.
Ohtani last pitched against the Kansas City Chiefs on Wednesday, but was replaced after just four innings. Afterwards it was said that he had suffered from blistering on the throwing hand. On Saturday, however, the team announced that the Japanese had injured his elbow on the collateral ligament and was not due to be re-evaluated for another three weeks. Already on Saturday the Japanese player was placed on the 10-Day Disabled List.
Ohtani has been 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA as a pitcher over 49 1/3 innings. As a designated hitter, he came up with a .907 OPS with six home runs and 20 RBI. He was considered the favourite for the title of Rookie of the Year in the American League.
This article was published without previous view by the Major League Baseball.