It was feared that Ohtani could be getting a second Tommy John surgery
The Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani was in the middle of the best year so far in his Major Leagues career when he injured his elbow on August 3 during a start against the Seattle Mariners. He didn’t pitch again during the season and he stopped playing altogether in September, fearing that he will be needing a second Tommy John surgery.
This injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for Ohtani, as he was in the middle of a contract year and an MVP caliber season. However, not all hopes are lost as he most surely will be back on the field in one way or another for the 2024 season.
The Angels released this statement on Shohei Ohtani and the procedure he had this morning. pic.twitter.com/Y3Bpo2VFOg
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) September 19, 2023
Ohtani’s surgery was a success
The Los Angeles Angels, with whom he still has a contract until the end of the World Series, released a statement where they disclosed that Ohtani had a procedure done at the Kerlan & Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles performed by the famed Dr. Neal ElAttrache, where they do not specify if the Japanese had Tommy John.
https://t.co/WzxJ4ktUmR Ohtani odds board: The 3 new co-favorites and 7 others with a decent chance in the big derby (with odds, naturally)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) October 26, 2023
However, ElAttrache said in the statement that he expects Ohtani ‘to hit without restrictions’ by the Opening Day of the 2024 season. He also states that the Japanese phenom would be returning to both batting and pitching for the 2025 season if everything goes well in his rehab process.
Will Ohtani win 2023 AL MVP?
Ohtani already lost almost two years of pitching in MLB after he underwent Tommy John surgery in 2018, being unable to pitch for the remainder of that season, all of 2019, and almost all of 2020, being a two-way player again since the start of the 2021 season.
Jon Heyman has the Red Sox as the 5th most likely team to sign Shohei Ohtani this winter, giving them 10-1 odds.
Ahead of them are the Rangers, Giants, Dodgers, and Mets. pic.twitter.com/87VmcV27iv
— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) October 27, 2023
The Japanese had another MVP-caliber season in 2023, as he had a 10-5 record with a 3.14 ERA and 167 Ks in 132 IP, also leading the Majors in OPS (1.066) and OPS + (184), hitting 44 home runs to lead the American League and having a 10.0 WAR season, the best in MLB.
