Shohei Ohtani underwent surgical procedure Tuesday to handle the UCL tear in his proper elbow, in accordance with an announcement launched by his agent Nez Balelo. The precise sort of the surgical procedure (whether or not a Tommy John process or an inside brace) wasn’t specified by Balelo or Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who carried out the process.
“The last word plan after deliberation with Shohei was to restore the problem at hand and to bolster the wholesome ligament in place whereas including viable tissue for the longevity of the elbow,” Dr. ElAttrache stated within the assertion. “I anticipate full restoration and he’ll be able to hit with none restrictions come Opening Day of 2024 and do each (hit and pitch) come 2025.”
Ohtani himself additionally commented on the scenario by way of his Instagram web page, in a considerably uncharacteristic transfer for a participant identified for his relative lack of public statements. Ohtani’s assertion: “I had a process completed on my elbow earlier this morning and every little thing went nicely. Thanks very a lot for everybody’s prayers and sort phrases. It was very unlucky that I couldn’t end out the 12 months on the sector, however I might be rooting on the boys till the top. I’ll work as arduous as I can and do my greatest to return again on the diamond stronger than ever. Go Halos!!”
As famous by Jeff Fletcher of the Southern California Information Group, ElAttrache’s description appears to indicate that Ohtani opted for a bracing process, or no less than one thing completely different than a normal Tommy John surgical procedure. TJ procedures have a reasonably set timeline of 13-15 months whereas brace procedures (a comparatively newer sort of surgical procedure) have typically had a shorter timeline, but ElAttrache’s assertion signifies that Ohtani isn’t anticipated to pitch in 2024.
It’s doable extra data on Ohtani’s pitching standing would possibly develop as he continues to rehab, although Balelo stated, “The ultimate choice and sort of process was made with a heavy emphasis on the massive image. Shohei needed to verify the path taken gave him each alternative to hit and pitch for a few years to return.” With this warning in thoughts, it appears doable that Ohtani isn’t planning to pitch in 2024 by any means, particularly since he already had Tommy John surgical procedure in late 2018 that restricted him to DH-only obligation in 2019.
Ohtani nonetheless hit a really stable .286/.343/.505 with 18 homers over 425 plate appearances in 2019, along with his season debut held off till Could 7 as a result of TJ rehab course of. He then pitched only one 2/3 innings in 2020 resulting from a flexor pressure and likewise struggled on the plate in the course of the abbreviated 60-game season, however Ohtani has subsequently rebounded with three of probably the most uniquely very good seasons in baseball historical past.
Since Opening Day 2021, Ohtani has a 2.84 ERA over 428 1/3 innings pitched, whereas hitting .277/.379/.585 with 124 house runs over 1904 PA. This two-way excellence earned him AL MVP honors in 2021, a runner-up MVP end in 2022, and really probably one other MVP trophy this season, though his 12 months has been reduce brief by harm. The UCL tear meant that Ohtani’s final begin got here on Aug. 23, and whereas he tried to maintain going as a hitter, he hasn’t performed since Sept. 3 resulting from an indirect pressure. The Angels introduced over the weekend that Ohtani had formally been positioned on the 10-day injured record, and wouldn’t play once more in 2023.
Consideration now turns to Ohtani’s subsequent choice, as he’ll enter free company with a resumé not like every other participant to ever attain the open market. It stays to be seen how Ohtani’s surgical procedure will influence his market, although even when he’s unable to pitch in 2024, most pundits really feel he’ll nonetheless land a record-setting deal, maybe topping the $500M threshold. It’s fairly doable that the advertising alternatives and further revenues out there to the staff that indicators Ohtani will offset the additional danger of his elbow issues, as even when there’s some pure long-term query about Ohtani’s arm well being, he supplies loads of worth even when he “solely” an elite hitter.
There was a lot hypothesis that Ohtani has already performed his final sport in an Angels uniform. Los Angeles has proven a willingness to pay massive cash for star expertise, but since Ohtani has been vocal about his want to play for a winner, the Angels’ string of eight consecutive dropping seasons would possibly get him wanting elsewhere, it doesn’t matter what possession would possibly supply in a brand new contract. Ohtani’s free company would be the key storyline of the 2023-24 offseason, and it isn’t a attain to say that a lot of the winter enterprise across the sport may be held as much as some extent till Ohtani chooses his subsequent staff.
