After suffering a right oblique strain during batting practice, Shohei Ohtani was left off the Los Angeles Angels lineup for the first game of their series against the Baltimore Orioles last week. He later missed all seven games of the homestand.

Testing on Ohtani found only minimal irritation and no strain. The Angels decided the two-way star would not require a stay on the 10-day injured list and that rest would help his condition.

Ohtani made an improvement and hopes to play in Monday’s series-opening between the Angels and Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. He felt the effects of his right oblique injury, though, and was once more left out of the lineup.

According to Rhett Bollinger and Brent Maguire of MLB.com, Angels manager Phil Nevin stated that Ohtani requested a bit more time off since he didn’t feel entirely healthy after swinging a bat:

He was optimistic that today would be fine, but manager Phil Nevin said that after the player warmed up, completed all of his treatments, and took a few swings in the cage, he “just didn’t feel quite 100 percent.” “I realize that. He just informed me that the day has not come yet.

Ohtani is nearing a comeback, according to Nevin, and may rejoin the Angels’ lineup as early as Tuesday:

Nevin remarked, “He feels really close.” “Today just didn’t work out. But tomorrow might be the day. Wednesday might be the day. But he is convinced that it will happen soon.

Unluckily, Ohtani’s oblique injury occurred the same day that his agent, Nez Balelo, predicted the 29-year-old may eventually require surgery to repair the damaged ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow.

Ohtani suffered an elbow injury while pitching on August 23 against the Cincinnati Reds and won’t be able to continue for the rest of the 2023 campaign.

Ohtani is approaching the end of one of the greatest individual seasons in MLB history. Ohtani entered play on Tuesday leading all players with 10 wins above replacement (WAR), making him the undisputed favorite to win the American League MVP award.

Ohtani is hitting brilliantly. In 599 plate appearances (135 games), the player hit 304/.412/.654 with 26 doubles, 8 triples, 44 home runs, 95 RBI, and 20 stolen bases. He has thrown 132 innings in 23 starts and is 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA, 4.00 FIP, 1.06 WHIP, and 11.4 strikeouts per nine.

Angels do not ‘have the pulse’ of Shohei Ohtani or his future ambitions.
Ohtani is expected to have a competitive market as a free agent this offseason despite his most recent elbow injury. The Angels are reportedly unaware of his future plans as he weighs his alternatives.