Shohei Ohtani left a game against the Kansas City Royals before the fifth inning last week. What was thought to be a recurring case of blisters in his hand is now a much more serious issue.
The State Of The Arm
The most famous pitching arm of the Major Leagues, as of today, is not doing so well. Unfortunately for Ohtani and the Angels, they are not dealing with a blisters relapse. The Angels’ pitcher and batter combo is suffering from elbow problems. A grade two strain to his Ulnar Colateral Ligament has sent the Japanese pitcher and DH to the disabled list. Although the Los Angeles GM has denied any plans for surgery, a Tommy John surgery is still a possibility.
While the Angels are not precisely battling for the lead of the AL West division and have lost their last three games, not having Ohtani around could prove detrimental.
Performance
Over nine starts, the Japanese righty holds a 4-1 record. He has pitched 49 and a third innings. He holds a 3.10 ERA and has only allowed 17 runs. On offense, after 114 at bats he is hitting .289 with 6 home runs and 20 RBI. Those are some pretty solid numbers. Ohtani is a must for the Angels at the end of the day.
The Japanese Icon
Shohei is not any regular ballplayer from Japan. With just half a season at the Major League level he has become one of the most recognizable faces not just for the Angels (alongside Albert Pujols and Mike Trout) , but for baseball itself. Neither MLB nor LA can afford to have him out of service.
Uncertainty
Perhaps what is most concerning is the fact that nobody knows what is next for him. While he is currently on the 10-day DL, this could go on for longer. Or, even worse, it could escalate to a possible surgery. The Angels are still hopeful of him returning at some point after the All-Star break.
Too Many Moving Parts
Let’s not forget that Ohtani already had elbow issues before signing with the California organization. Things like this were bound to happen, it was just a matter of time before something would happen in regards with his health. Physical wear and tear are always a concern for any player. Such concern increases considerably for a player like the Japanese pitcher. As harsh as it sounds, something was going to break sooner or later.
Decision Time
This season has shown that keeping up with pitching and batting at the same time in Major League Baseball is not an easy task. In fact it has almost run into a Kamikaze situation. Problems could keep plaguing Ohtani if this keeps up. Whether it is his ankles, blisters in his pitching hand, or most recently, his UCL.
In order to minimize the risk of injury, it is time for the Anaheim ballclub to make a decision on how to play Ohtani. Otherwise injuries will keep pouring on the 23 year old. It is time for the Angels to make up their mind