Shohei Ohtani, the incredible two-way player for the Los Angeles Angels, has been having an exceptional baseball season. While his 2023 campaign will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest in MLB history, the recent news of another UCL tear and his inability to pitch for the rest of the year has left the sports world shaken. This development has raised questions about Ohtani’s future as a pitcher and his upcoming free agency. FOX Sports’ MLB experts, Ben Verlander, Deesha Thosar, Rowan Kavner, Jordan Shusterman, and Jake Mintz, weighed in on Ohtani’s injury and its potential impact.
Ben Verlander expresses deep empathy for Ohtani and describes the news as heartbreaking. He believes that Ohtani is currently the greatest baseball player, and this turn of events is devastating for him, baseball fans, and everyone involved.
Rowan Kavner emphasizes the significance of Ohtani’s injury, stating that it serves as a reminder of the mortality of even the baseball gods. He acknowledges Ohtani’s exceptional skills as a hitter and pitcher, and losing that ability for a year or more, especially if a second Tommy John surgery is necessary, is a massive blow. The fact that Ohtani won’t have the chance to pitch in meaningful games in October during his time with the Angels is disheartening.
When it comes to Ohtani’s prospects as a two-way player, Ben Verlander is not concerned. He points out that Ohtani has already been through this process before and successfully addressed the questions surrounding his ability to perform on both fronts. Verlander believes that Ohtani can recover from another UCL operation if needed.
Jordan Shusterman contemplates how Ohtani will bounce back from a potential second Tommy John surgery and maintain his workload as a two-way player as he gets older. While he is fascinated to see how teams will evaluate Ohtani as primarily a hitter in 2024, especially if he undergoes surgery, he also wonders if his offensive capabilities might slightly decrease due to the recovery process. Shusterman cites Bryce Harper’s experience taking several months to regain his power after an injury as a reference point for Ohtani’s potential road to recovery.
Ben Verlander mentions that returning from two Tommy John surgeries is not uncommon, citing examples of other pitchers who have successfully done it. He believes that Ohtani’s age shouldn’t be a significant hindrance, as there have been players like Nathan Eovaldi and Chris Capuano who returned from the surgery and continued to perform well.
The discussion moves to whether the Angels should have maintained a six-man rotation. Ben Verlander expresses frustration with the Angels for not paying closer attention to Ohtani’s signs of fatigue throughout the season. Verlander implies that the organization may not have prioritized Ohtani’s future and well-being despite repeatedly removing him from games due to fatigue.
Jordan Shusterman counters that Ohtani has been following his own plan for years, and the Angels have trusted him to make decisions regarding his workload. Shusterman believes that blaming the team for Ohtani’s injury is unjust since there is no foolproof way to avoid elbow injuries. He acknowledges Ohtani’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is considered possible and appreciates the incredible seasons he has given fans.
Jake Mintz shares that the only frustration he has with the Angels is their failure to build a strong team around Ohtani, who he considers the most spectacular player in baseball history. Mintz acknowledges that Ohtani has been in control of his own program and that the Angels have respected his wishes. Mintz argues that the Angels’ decision to employ a five-man rotation, which allowed Ohtani to showcase his talents in both pitching and hitting, should not be criticized.
Finally, Ben Verlander believes that if Ohtani doesn’t play another game this year, he should still be considered the AL MVP. However, whether Ohtani continues to serve as a designated hitter will depend on second opinions and whether he decides to undergo Tommy John surgery again.
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