Shohei Ohtani undergoing elbow surgery is ‘inevitable’, his agent confirms – but he remains coy about whether Angels star needs a second Tommy John procedure
- Ohtani has remained in the batting lineup despite a torn right UCL
- Despite the injury, he is expected to pull off a huge free agency deal
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According to his agent Nez Balelo, two-time superstar Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels will eventually undergo surgery on his injured right elbow.
Balelo told reporters Monday it was “inevitable,” though he did not specify whether Ohtani would undergo Tommy John surgery or a separate operation.
Ohtani is currently dealing with a torn UCL that has ruled him out of pitching for the rest of this season and also for at least part of the 2024 campaign.
The 29-year-old superstar has already had Tommy John surgery once in his career and will move into free agency at the end of this season.
His ability not only as a top pitcher but also as a powerful hitter ensures that a team gets one of the best players in the league at either position.
Shohei Ohtani will eventually undergo elbow surgery after his agent called it “inevitable.”
Despite the torn UCL in his right elbow, Ohtani has remained the DH in the Angels lineup
However, the injury and the way his pitching ability is affected could affect the specifics of his off-season market.
Balelo did confirm that Ohtani is still aiming to showcase his talents in both facets of the game once he is able to do so again, although not necessarily next season.
“There is no doubt in his mind that he will come back and that he will continue to do both,” Balelo said. “Shohei will be in someone’s lineup next year, DH-ing when the bell rings.”
While he probably won’t be able to pitch next season, he’s sure to sign a huge free agent deal
Balelo also stated that the original Tommy John repair was still intact, which he called the “best case scenario.”
Ohtani is currently tied in the MLB home run with 44 long balls. Bob Nightengale of USA Today recently reported that teams view Ohtani as an elite power hitter ahead of his free agency and that he would likely pick up incentives and bonuses if he can return to the mound in 2025.
Before the injury, Ohtani could potentially be handed a record-breaking contract this offseason, but Balelo’s insistence that his client will still step into the batter’s box next season could serve to allay concerns teams may have that Ohtani would be out all season. to miss.
In light of Ohtani’s injury and the team’s dismal season, the Angels recently released five players in an attempt to evade the luxury tax, but failed when only four of the five were claimed from waivers by other teams.