Talented two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani took a significant step towards securing a promising future as he underwent elbow surgery reports MLB.com, aiming to ensure his longevity in the game. Agent Nez Balelo confirmed the procedure, emphasizing its focus on Ohtani’s career as a whole.
Ohtani, who showcased his exceptional abilities with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts over 132 innings during this season, faced a pivotal moment in his career when a UCL tear forced him to switch exclusively to hitting from August 23 onward.
Sharing his thoughts on his surgery, Ohtani expressed gratitude for the support he received: “Thank you very much for everyone’s prayers and kind words. It was very unfortunate that I couldn’t finish out the year on the field, but I will be rooting on the boys until the end. I will work as hard as I can and do my best to come back on the diamond stronger than ever.”
The surgery, performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, aimed to repair the existing issue and reinforce the healthy ligament while adding viable tissue to ensure the elbow’s longevity. Dr. ElAttrache confidently anticipates a full recovery, projecting Ohtani to return to unrestricted hitting by Opening Day 2024, with the potential to resume both pitching and hitting in 2025.
Despite being ruled out for the remainder of the season due to an oblique injury, Ohtani remains the frontrunner for the American League Most Valuable Player Award. This potential victory would mark his second MVP award in three seasons, demonstrating his exceptional contributions to the game.
For Ohtani’s long-term prospects, this surgery holds significant implications. As he approaches free agency, questions arise regarding the structure of his contract without pitching in the upcoming season. This situation becomes even more complex considering it’s Ohtani’s second major surgery on his right elbow. The initial Tommy John surgery in 2018 sidelined him for the entire 2019 season, and subsequent arm issues limited him to just two starts in 2020.
However, when he fully returned to pitching in 2021, Ohtani embarked on a historic three-year journey, excelling as both a hitter and pitcher. Over this period, he launched an impressive 124 home runs, boasted a stellar OPS+ of 161, and struck out 542 batters with an outstanding ERA+ of 152. His overall value, as reflected by a WAR of 26.3 per FanGraphs, was unmatched in baseball during this peak.
Although surgery will temporarily sideline his pitching contributions until at least 2025, fans eagerly anticipate the return of this exceptional two-way phenom and the continued brilliance he brings to the game.
