Shohei Ohtani done pitching in 2020
When the Los Angeles Angels signed Japanese phenom Shohei Ohtani prior to the 2018 season, many in North America were skeptical about the idea of a player being able to play as both a pitcher and an outfielder or designated hitter. Ohtani was determined to prove them wrong and showcase his unique abilities at the highest level in the world.
However, on Monday the 26-year-old was diagnosed with a Grade 1-2 strain of the flexor pronator mass. As a result, he will not be pitching for the remainder of the shortened season. Ohtani will now likely serve as a designated hitter for the Angels on most nights. While the latest setback isn’t ideal, his manager Joe Maddon isn’t quite ready to give up on his star being able to do both things that he loves.
“From what I’m seeing, I believe that he can,” Maddon told reporters prior to the Angels’ game against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday, via ESPN. “We just gotta get past the [arm issues] and figure that out specifically.
“But I’ve seen it. He’s such a high-end arm and specifically what he can do in the batter’s box. Now maybe he’ll get to the point where he may choose to want to do one thing over the other and just express that to us. I know he likes to hit. As of right now, in my mind’s eye, he’s still gonna be able to do this.”
Although Maddon remains optimistic that Ohtani will still be able to pitch in the future, it may be time for him to decide what is ultimately best for his career. The club is hoping that he will still be able to put up impressive numbers at the plate even with the injury but will be taking a far more cautious approach in terms of his pitching rehabilitation.
“I’m looking forward to him getting well and then utilizing a normal spring training, going into a regular season with a normal number of starts and all the things that permit guys to be ready for a year,” Maddon said. “That’s what you need to see again, some normalcy, before you make that type of determination [about his two-way status].”
This is not Ohtani’s first injury as he underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2018 and hadn’t pitched a game in the MLB until the return of play in July. Ohtani has made two starts this season so far, but he failed to get out of the first inning in his first game back and couldn’t manage to escape the second inning in his second start.
The Angels are 4-7 after their first 11 games of the season and understand that if they are to reach the postseason, they will need Ohtani to perform in the batter’s box. It remains to be seen how his latest injury will affect his ability to hit the ball, but the baseball world will be paying close attention.
Los Angeles take on the Seattle Mariners again on Wednesday and Thursday, before travelling to Texas to take on the Rangers over the weekend.
