Shohei Ohtani has made an announcement of his surgery, prompting the question: can he still pitch and hit in 2024?
There were fears surrounding Ohtani’s potential need for a second Tommy John surgery.
Shohei Ohtani, the extraordinary Japanese athlete who excels both as a pitcher and batter, was experiencing his most remarkable season in Major Leagues when tragedy struck. On August 3, during a game against the Seattle Mariners, his elbow suffered an unfortunate injury. He abstained from pitching for the remainder of the season and ceased playing completely in September, apprehensive that he would require a second Tommy John surgery.
The statement regarding Shohei Ohtani’s procedure this morning was released by the Angels. Ohtani found himself in an unfortunate situation with this injury, arriving at an utmost unfavorable moment. It transpired precisely during his contract year and while he was performing at an exceptional level, warranting potential recognition as an MVP. Nevertheless, there is still hope that he will make a comeback on the field for the 2024 season.
Ohtani underwent a successful surgery.
The Los Angeles Angels recently made an announcement, revealing that Ohtani had undergone a procedure conducted by the renowned Dr. at the Kerlan and Jobe Orthopedic Clinic in Los Angeles. It is worth mentioning that Ohtani is currently under contract with the Angels until the conclusion of the World Series. It is not specified whether the Japanese had Tommy John, according to Neal ElAttrache.
In the statement, ElAttrache expressed his anticipation for Ohtani to hit without any limitations, specifically by the start of the 2024 season. The author mentions that, assuming a successful rehabilitation process, the Japanese prodigy is expected to resume both batting and pitching in the 2025 season.
Is Ohtani going to win the 2023 AL MVP?
Ohtani endured the setback of Tommy John surgery in 2018, which caused him to miss out on nearly two years of MLB pitching. As a result, he was unable to contribute his pitching skills for the remainder of that season and throughout all of 2019. His absence continued for the majority of 2020 as well. However, he made a triumphant return as a two-way player at the beginning of the 2021 season.
According to Jon Heyman, the Red Sox have the 5th highest chance of signing Shohei Ohtani this winter, with odds of 10-1.
The Rangers, Giants, Dodgers, and Mets are all ahead of them.
In the year 2023, the Japanese player performed exceptionally well, displaying MVP-level skills. With a remarkable record of 10 wins and 5 losses, he maintained an impressive ERA of 3.14. Moreover, he showcased immense power by striking out 167 batters in just 132 innings pitched. Furthermore, he triumphed as the leader of the Majors in both OPS (1.066) and OPS + (184), demonstrating his domination in offensive statistics.
Additionally, he claimed his position as the home run leader in the American League, smashing an outstanding 44 home runs throughout the season. Remarkably, his achievements secured him a 10.0 WAR season, surpassing all other players in MLB and establishing himself as the finest in the league.
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