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Ohtani delivers another homer, puts surgery on hold
LOS ANGELES, Sept 8, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Shohei Ohtani has decided to
postpone a decision on whether or not to undergo right elbow surgery until he
finishes the regular season as a batter for the Los Angeles Angels.
The two-way Japanese star was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral
ligament (UCL) in his elbow which could require “Tommy John” surgery to fix.
Although the injury means the 24-year-old is unable to pitch, doctors have
deemed him fit enough to take his place as a designated hitter in the Angels
batting line-up and he did just that on Friday night, blasting his 19th home
run of the season in a 5-2 win over the Chicago White Sox.
“Nothing’s set right now (for surgery),” said Ohtani, speaking through an
interpreter earlier on Friday. “I have a few options out there and I’m still
trying to look into every single option.
“I will end up making a decision sometime toward the end of the year.”
Ohtani launched a three-run shot to cap the Angels’ four-run third inning
against Chicago. He has now homered in three straight games since learning he
will likely need the surgery.
Asked if he would ever consider stopping pitching he said, “That’s not in
the plans. I’m progressing as a hitter right now and trying to gain as many
experiences as I can while the games count.”
UCL is a serious injury in baseball, and “Tommy John” surgery, named after
the first pitcher to undergo the procedure, usually requires at least a year
on the sidelines before a player can return.
“Somewhere in the back of my mind I was preparing for the ‘Tommy John’
stuff,” Ohtani said.
“It was something that was in my mind the whole time but I’m trying to take
it as positively as possible.
“I will still be able to hit next year, so I’m trying to stay positive.”
Ohtani’s arrival in Major League Baseball this season has been one of the
league’s most compelling storylines, with observers eager to see whether the
pitching prowess and explosive presence at the plate that marked his career
in Japan would translate over to North America.
An indifferent series of performances in spring training raised doubts
about his readiness.
But he assuaged those concerns with a series of superb performances in the
opening weeks of the season, hitting three home runs in his first three home
games for the Angels.
Ohtani chose the Anaheim-based outfit despite overtures from several
leading MLB franchises including the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees
and San Francisco Giants.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1100 hrs