This story was adapted from Rhett Bollinger’s Angels Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.
NEW YORK – This was shocking and sad news not only for the Angels and Shuhei Ohtani, but also for baseball fans around the world.
But in a sober press conference late Wednesday after suffering a doubleheader, general manager Pere Minassian announced that Ohtani had been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and would not play again this season. It may require a second surgery for Tommy John before his long-awaited free agency.
A favorite to win the AL MVP award despite an injury, Ohtani has been the talk of baseball all season and now there are questions swirling about his future. Here’s what we know now:
When did Ohtani first start feeling something in his elbow?
Ohtani skipped his scheduled start against the Rangers last week due to arm fatigue and also said he was frustrated on August 9 against the Giants despite not allowing an earned run over six innings. Minassian said Ohtani never indicated anything wrong with his elbow until after he was knocked out of the first game of the doubleheader on Wednesday.
The Angels aren’t sure if Ohtani was torn on a particular field but his speed dropped significantly in the second half. He left the game after throwing a 94 mph fastball with one out and immediately told the coaching staff about his elbow, which led to a photo shoot between games. Ohtani discovered the frustrating diagnosis but played amazingly in the second game of the doubleheader, showing off his amazing personality and love for the game.
However, Ohtani was not available to the media after the match to provide an update on when he sustained the injury or if he felt anything in his elbow this season. But it will hopefully be available to the media soon to provide some clarity.
What is Ohtani’s short-term plan?
Ohtani traveled with the team to New York on Thursday and will remain the club’s designated hitter until he gets his A second opinion On his elbow, a source told MLB.com. His agent, Nez Balilo, also flew from Los Angeles to New York on Thursday.
But it hasn’t been decided whether Ohtani will play the rest of the season as a designated hitter, as it depends on whether he needs surgery. If he needs surgery, he will probably do it as soon as possible to get back on the hill quickly and finish his season on the plate as well.
How likely is it to have Tommy John surgery and what will the recovery time look like?
It depends on the severity of the tear and Minassian said he wasn’t sure of the degree on Wednesday. But once Ohtani gets a second opinion, they’ll get a better idea if he’ll need a second Tommy John surgery.
However, Tommy John surgery is the most likely outcome of an ACL tear, and recovery time is generally 12 to 18 months. But the success rate is lower for players who get it twice. Even if he recovers quickly, he will miss the 2024 season as a player.
When Ohtani operated on Tommy John the first time, he operated on October 1, 2018, and did not play again until the abbreviated 2020 season. Started July 26 and August 2, 2020, and walked eight batters in 1 2/3 innings combined before being shut out with a flexor block strain.
So, there’s a chance Ohtani won’t look like himself on the mound until 2026, and given the unexpected nature of a second Tommy John surgery, there’s no guarantee he’ll be back to how he was before the second surgery. But given Ohtani’s penchant for proving people wrong, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see Ohtani defy the odds and throw the ball like an ace again.
As a hitter, Ohtani missed only one month of the 2019 season after the operation, making his season debut on May 7. Therefore, if Ohtani undergoes the operation soon, he will not lose much time as a designated hitter. . Not only did he perform well offensively without being a two-way player, but he also dealt with a A knee injury that requires surgery in September 2019.
Are there other options?
There is also a newer operation to repair the ACL using an internal brace. The recovery time is faster at six to nine months but it is generally used for partial rather than complete tears.
If the rupture is not complete, Ohtani can also choose platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections or stem cell therapy. He did both in 2018 when he was first diagnosed with a Champions League pre-season sprain. But he still ultimately needed Tommy John surgery.
Who are some of the other players who have returned from two Tommy John surgeries?
MLB.com has it List of notable players Those who underwent the procedure twice include Nathan Iovaldi, Jameson Tylon, Mike Clevinger, and Daniel Hudson. Jacob DeGrom is currently in rehab following his second Tommy John surgery, while Drew Rasmussen found success following his second surgery with the Rays before tearing up their Champions League for the third time this season.
How does this affect the free agent market?
This is the $500 million question that we don’t fully know yet, although this injury will hurt his future value. But Ohtani is still a unicorn and has been the best hitter in baseball this season. And if he suffers a setback in throwing the ball, he can be converted into a defensive player, which is the position he played in Japan.
But his contract could look a lot different now, as his agent has to get creative. Will she have the option to opt out? Promotion related performance bonuses? Will Ohtani accept a one-year deal and then come back into the market once he’s a two-way player again?
It’s hard to tell just yet, but it presents another interesting issue that the Angels could benefit from, as Ohtani could get comfortable with the organization while his elbow was being rehabilitated. And its price could be a better match.
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