Ohtani’s locker cleared out; Angels say particulars to come back Sat.

ANAHEIM — Shohei Ohtani’s locker was cleaned out and he had a big bag packed in entrance of it after Friday’s 11-2 loss in opposition to the Tigers, however the Angels mentioned they gained’t have something to announce till Saturday.

Ohtani was not within the lineup in opposition to Detroit on Friday, although he labored out earlier than the sport in an effort to play. Ultimately, he was held out of his eleventh straight recreation due to a proper indirect harm. He could possibly be deciding to close it down this season; he additionally suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his proper elbow on Aug. 23 that’s anticipated to require surgical procedure. It’s nonetheless unclear what sort of operation is important for Ohtani, who already had Tommy John surgical procedure in 2018.

Ohtani injured the indirect whereas taking batting observe at Angel Stadium on Sept. 4, and he was scratched from that night time’s recreation earlier than additional testing revealed that he had minor irritation and no pressure. He did, nonetheless, miss the remaining seven video games of the Angels’ homestand. Ohtani was hopeful to return within the three-game sequence in Seattle and was initially within the lineup on Monday earlier than being scratched.

Manager Phil Nevin mentioned on Wednesday that there was some hope he’d play on Friday after an off-day on Thursday however it wasn’t the case. Randal Grichuk began at designated hitter within the sequence opener in opposition to Detroit.

“He’s always wanting to play,” Nevin mentioned earlier than the lineup was introduced. “He’s just going through his stuff.”

Ohtani’s indirect harm got here on the identical day that his agent, Nez Balelo, spoke with native and Japanese media in regards to the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his proper elbow. Ohtani, who tore the UCL whereas pitching in opposition to the Reds on Aug. 23, gained’t pitch once more this season and continues to be weighing his choices after receiving a number of opinions on the harm. Surgery continues to be seemingly for Ohtani, however he would possibly keep away from his second Tommy John process.

The 29-year-old is getting into the ultimate weeks of what has been among the finest seasons in MLB historical past. On the offensive facet of issues, Ohtani has crushed 44 residence runs, stolen 20 bases and leads the Majors with a 1.066 OPS and .654 SLG. Prior to his elbow harm, he had a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings on the mound.

Cumulatively, Ohtani leads the Majors with 10 WAR, greater than two wins higher than the next-closest participant (Mookie Betts, 7.9), per Baseball Reference. The impending free agent can be getting into the ultimate weeks earlier than he hits the marketplace for the primary time in his profession. With the uncertainty round his torn UCL, many questions stay for the two-way celebrity.