DESPITE A TORN ELBOW LIGAMENT, OHTANI STARTS AT DH
Shohei Ohtani’s right elbow was fine until he tore his ulnar collateral ligament with a 94 mph fastball to Cincinnati’s Christian Encarnacion-Strand on Wednesday, according to Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin.
Baseball’s two-way superstar was back in the Angels’ lineup as a designated hitter Friday night against the New York Mets, two days after the injury ended his season as a pitcher and clouded his future months before he can become a free agent.
He hit a 115.4 mph double that one-hopped the rightfield wall against countryman Kodai Senga, keying a two-run third inning. Ohtani also walked three times and grounded out in the Angels’ 3-1 win.
He received huge cheers from the crowd on Japanese Heritage Night when he walked to the plate in the first inning and tipped his helmet twice in response.
Mets manager Buck Showalter was booed by fans for ordering an intentional walk to Ohtani with runners at the corners and two outs in the ninth.
Ohtani hasn’t spoken with media since the injury, and it remains unclear whether he will have a second Tommy John surgery. The Angels have said he plans to seek a second opinion before deciding.
“Him and his representation are going to come up with a plan,” General Manager Perry Minasian said. “But as we sit here today, he’s going to play until he tells us he’s not.”
Ohtani’s fastball averaged 93.1 mph against the Reds, down from a season average of 96.8 mph, according to FanGraphs. His sweeper dropped 4 mph and his curveball 5.7 mph, an indication something was wrong. Ohtani had skipped his previous turn in the rotation, citing arm fatigue, and was pitching for the first time since Aug. 9.
Ohtani was 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts and 162 strikeouts in 132 innings to go along with a .304 batting average, a major leagueleading 44 home runs and 91 RBIs,
Ohtani was hurt on his 26th pitch of the outing, his 2,088th of the season, his 6,824th since Tommy John surgery and the 7,677th of his big league career.
“People want to speculate all they want,” Nevin said. “He just felt what he called fatigue, a little tired.
But when he got through a week after missing the start, he felt great all week. He threw great bullpens, and he just went amiss there in the second inning.”
Now 29, Ohtani had Tommy John surgery on Oct. 1, 2018, performed by Los Angeles Dodgers head team physician Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
Ohtani insisted on playing the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader even though he had been told of the UCL tear.
Ohtani is eligible for free agency after the season and was in line for a record contract, perhaps $500 million or more. Star teammate
Mike Trout predicted Ohtani will remain a twoway player.
“There’s no doubt in my mind,” he said.
Notable
Cardinals 3B Nolan Arenado left Friday night against the Phillies in the seventh inning with what the club described as lowerback tightness.
• Yankees 3B Josh Donaldson (strained right calf) traveled with the team and could be nearing a minor league rehab assignment. Also, 1B Anthony Rizzo (post-concussion syndrome) may take batting practice in the next few days.