Shohei Ohtani continues to dominate headlines in Major League Baseball. And his absence added to the speculation surrounding his present status. While Nez Balelo, his agent, was unavailable, his former boss at the Los Angeles Angels, Perry Minasian, continued speaking in generalities. And it did not help.
An entire sport eagerly awaits the outcome of the General Manager Meetings of the MLB. And the news surrounding Shohei Ohtani is at the epicenter of it all. Shotime, the Japanese professional baseball pitcher and designated hitter is now a free agent.
In his 6 seasons with the Angels, Ohtani’s emergence as a hitter elite and pitcher is a rare phenomenon. There has never been another player like him, at least not in recent years. Since the season of 2018, Shohei Ohtani has mastered both the disciplines. For 3 seasons till 2020, he could pitch at a total of a mere 12 games due to an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his elbow. It required surgery though it did not prevent him from hitting.
Shohei Ohtani Could Decide To Concentrate On Hitting The Rest Of His Career
He was the American League’s MVP in 2021 and performed just as well last season. This year has been his best ever. It could also be considered the most remarkable season ever by any individual in the history of baseball. The first 5 times he pitched for the LA Angels, he allowed 8 hits.
Medical professionals associated with the game have advised Shohei Ohtani to stay out of the 2024 season totally and allow his arm to heal optimally. But given his ambition, Shohei Ohtani is unlikely to stay away this season. He is set to sign with some other team this winter. And it will almost certainly give him a great chance to advance far in the playoffs.
By April 2025, the earliest he would most likely pitch in an MLB game, Shohei Ohtani will be 31. This is an age when most players start to decline. It is worth considering what he would achieve as a hitter if he aims to concentrate on just hitting in the later years of his career.