Los Angeles Angels pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani has been dealt an injury blow. He had exited the first game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds last Wednesday, August 23, due to arm fatigue.
A subsequent MRI showed that the phenom had a tear in his right elbow's ulnar collateral ligament (UCL).
Angels general manager Perry Minasian announced that the 29-year-old will not be pitching for the team for the rest of the season, but they are hopeful he could continue to do his designated hitter duties.
"He has a tear, and he won't pitch the rest of the year. We're going to get a second opinion, go from there, but it's basically day to day," the executive said.
It is not yet sure if the UCL tear would require a Tommy John surgery, a reconstruction of the elbow ligament from a tendon elsewhere in the body, or a deceased donor.
Ohtani already underwent the same surgery in October 2018, and he could miss most of the 2024 season if doctors recommend that he goes under the knife.
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Half a billion at stake
Ohtani is set to hit the open market at the end of the season unless he reaches an agreement on a contract extension with the Angels.
Some have called his upcoming free agency the most anticipated one in baseball history, and projections say he could fetch a contract worth $500 million.
It remains to be seen if the UCL injury would affect the value of Ohtani's future deal.
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