Shohei Ohtani underwent an elbow procedure Tuesday as his future as each a hitter and pitcher appears to be coming into clearer view — even when his standing with the Angels stays murky at best.
Ohtani, who tore the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow earlier this summer, underwent a procedure Tuesday to “reinforce the healthy ligament,” in accordance with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed the procedure.
ElAttrache, the top team physician for the Los Angeles Rams and Dodgers, recently performed the surgery to repair Aaron Rodgers’ torn Achilles tendon.
The noted orthopedic surgeon said Ohtani plans to come back back as a hitter initially of next season after which return as a two-way player in 2025.
“The last word plan after deliberation with Shohei, was to repair the difficulty at hand and to bolster the healthy ligament in place while adding viable tissue for the longevity of the elbow,” ElAttrache said within the statement released by the Angels.
“I expect full recovery and he’ll be able to hit with none restrictions come opening day of 2024 and do each [hit and pitch] come 2025.”
On Tuesday, Ohtani, who had previously undergone Tommy John surgery in 2018, posted on Instagram that he plans to make a comeback and return “stronger than ever.”
“I had a procedure done on my elbow earlier this morning and every part went thoroughly,” Ohtani said. “Thanks very much for everybody’s prayers and type words. It was very unlucky that I couldn’t finish out the 12 months on the sphere, but I will probably be rooting on the boys until the tip. I’ll work as hard as I can and do my best to come back back on the diamond stronger than ever.”
Ohtani, an MVP frontrunner from the jump this season, left an Aug. 23 start early, and it was later revealed that he had an elbow injury.
Despite that, he suited up as a delegated hitter in Game 2 of the Angels’ doubleheader that day.
He continued to hit on and off within the lineup until Sept. 3, which marked his last game.
On Sept. 16, Ohtani’s locker had been cleaned out, and the Angels later announced his season was done with an oblique injury.
On the mound, Ohtani had a 3.14 ERA with 167 strikeouts over 132 innings while crushing 44 homers with a 1.066 OPS as a hitter.
He’s set to change into a free agent after the season in what’s going to likely be essentially the most intriguing storyline of baseball’s hot stove.
Though Ohtani’s days with the Angels could possibly be over, Los Angeles GM Perry Minasian said over the weekend that he hopes the Japanese star will return.
“He’s a reasonably special guy,” Minasian said. “He’s a reasonably special player. It’s been a pleasure to have a likelihood to get to know him during the last three years, and hopefully he’s here for a very long time.”
—With AP
