The Los Angeles Angels have already announced that Shohei Ohtani has a UCL tear and won’t be pitching again this season.
It’s a shame, as he had a 3.14 ERA and showed his dominant stuff start after start.
A UCL tear could potentially compromise his ability to hit, too, but hitters playing with UCL tears aren’t unprecedented.
He could theoretically complete the season with it, but it always depends on each individual case, the team’s motivation to have the player in the lineup, and pain management.
If Ohtani continues to play through the ailment, he has a chance to make some more franchise history.
“Assuming he still hits this season, Ohtani is 4 HR shy of breaking the Angels’ single-season record, set by Troy Glaus in 2000 (47). He’s 1 of 3 players in franchise history with multiple 40-HR seasons (Trout 3x, Glaus 2x),” ESPN Stats & Info tweeted.
Assuming he still hits this season, Ohtani is 4 HR shy of breaking the Angels' single-season record, set by Troy Glaus in 2000 (47).
He's 1 of 3 players in franchise history with multiple 40-HR seasons (Trout 3x, Glaus 2x). pic.twitter.com/3OpLRrnFhV
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 24, 2023
Ohtani already has 44 home runs, two shy of his career-high of 46 established in 2021.
He already has a place as one of three Angels with multiple 40-homer seasons, but it would be cool if he broke Glaus’ record of 47 dingers.
That record is 23 years old, but is in serious danger as Ohtani has more than a month to surpass it.
Will his swing be affected by his injury?
We will find out in the upcoming days, but the Angels hope they can have him for a bit longer.
They are still in a playoff race even if they are highly unlikely to get their goal at this point and with a 61-67 record.
NEXT: Shohei Ohtani May Have Already Lost A Large Fortune
