Shohei Ohtani underwent an MRI on Friday afternoon that showed lingering irritation in his right oblique, prompting him to shut down his season as a hitter and shift his focus to treating the torn ulnar collateral ligament that previously ended his season as a pitcher, Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Saturday.
"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."
Shohei Ohtani, who'll be a free agent at season's end, plans on continuing to hit and pitch down the road, and his agent, Nez Balelo of CAA, previously said he will be ready to at least hit "when the bell rings" at the start of the 2024 season.
The decision makes sense, especially considering Ohtani also tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Aug. 23. He’s also already considered a lock to win the AL MVP Award for the second time in three years. Ohtani is scheduled to undergo surgery for the UCL tear as soon as next week, although general manager Perry Minasian said before Saturday’s game that he doesn’t know if Ohtani will undergo his second Tommy John surgery or a different operation.
He has already been shut down as a pitcher this season due to a tear in his right elbow ligament, but the Angels had held out hope he could to return as a hitter this month after straining his obliques in batting practice last week.
Ohtani is still the frontrunner for his second AL MVP award in three years, but Texas’ Corey Seager could be gaining in voters’ minds. Ohtani, who went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA this season, leads the American League with 44 homers, and his 1.066 OPS is the second-best in the majors, now trailing Seager.
As a pitcher Ohtani pitched 132 innings with a 3.14 ERA and an impressive 167 strikeouts. Ohtani ends the year with a 10-5 record in 23 starts.
As a hitter, Ohtani has been the best in the American League. Hitting a .304 average with a 1.066 OPS Ohtani has hit for average while also hitting 44 home runs which still leads the American League.
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