Los Angeles Angels Face Tough Decision as Shohei Ohtani’s Injuries Threaten Future
Angels Manager Updates Ohtani's Condition After Oblique Injury Amid Frustrating Season
In a season filled with frustration, the Los Angeles Angels have less than a month left to salvage a positive ending. The looming specter of free agency hovers over the team, with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani at the center of attention.
With playoff hopes all but dashed, the Angels can finally shift their focus to the uncertain road ahead. The prospect of parting ways with Ohtani is a nightmare scenario that no one wants to contemplate. Despite enduring a season-ending torn UCL as a pitcher, Ohtani’s commitment to the game persists, though it comes at a cost, as he grapples with an oblique injury that has kept him sidelined in recent games.
Following the team’s loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday night, Manager Phil Nevin stepped forward with an update on the superstar’s condition. The decision to rest Ohtani appears wise, given the bleak postseason outlook. With the playoffs out of reach, there’s no reason to risk further damage to Ohtani’s already fragile state.
“We’ll see how is tomorrow when he comes in,” Nevin said. “We’ll have a conversation. But I think we dodged a bullet there as far as injury goes. It’s more of like a day-to-day thing.”
While Ohtani’s competitive spirit is unparalleled, the Angels are essentially saving him from himself. In hindsight, it’s a decision they should have made earlier in the season. The future remains uncertain, with Ohtani’s return to the lineup shrouded in doubt. However, the silver lining is that he seems to have averted a major injury this time around. With the pre-existing UCL tear, shutting down for the rest of the year is the prudent choice.
“He really wants to play right now,” said Nevin, whose team is 11 games below .500 and no longer in contention for a playoff berth. “This is something that he’s upset by. He wants to play. And we want him to. Of course, we do. It’s a credit to who he is. If you start something you’re gonna finish it. He wants to be out there. I know he does. But right now, we’re still evaluating, to see where we’re at. Those things can be finicky at times. So we’ve got to make sure. That’s why we’re diving into some tests. When we get all that information, you guys will know.”
Though Ohtani’s Angels career may be drawing to a close, this respite grants him much-needed time to heal or undergo the necessary surgery to address the UCL tear. It’s a tough reality that both sides must confront, but it’s a decision that cannot be postponed any longer. As the season nears its end, the Angels are grappling with a dilemma that could reshape their future.
