Shohei Ohtani, a prominent player for the Angels, will not return this year after sustaining a season-ending ιnjury to his right oblique muscle about two weeks ago.

Ohtani, who will be a free agent after the World Series, was placed on the 15-day disabled list and may have already played his last game for the Angels. Ohtani was let off early on Friday evening after an MRI showed continued discomfort in his oblique, according to general manager Perry Minasian. Minasian reported that Ohtani intended to remain for the last homestand.

On Saturday, he was in the Angels’ dugout as they lost to the Detroit Tigers, 5-4, after 10 innings. As soon as word got out that Ohtani was in the dugout, supporters flocked to the dugouts at the end of each inning. Ushers helped control the flow of people, making sure the aisles were clear each time more people arrived.

On Friday, manager Phil Nevin claimed that Ohtani had practiced in the batting cage prior to the team’s 11-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers. Ohtani emptied his locker once the decision to release him from active duty was made.

Ohtani’s ruptured ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow was potentially going to be repaired on Saturday, according to Minasian.

“That’s why he packed,” Minasian explained. “There’s no malice intended here.”

After batting practice, a small group of media asked Minasian about Ohtani’s motivation for cleaning out his locker, given that Ohtani had already stated his intention to be around the team for the rest of the season.

“You’d have to ask him,” Minasian suggested. Sаy it with me: “He’s not playing. Perhaps all of his possessions have some sort of value. He’s got his own stuff, too. I have no idea if he sells it himself or if someone else does.

“I didn’t think it was that big of a deal,” Minasian went on. “When the school year ends, the guys who are done with it clear out their lockers. As a club kid, I used to help my other students out by clearing out their lockers. After clearing out his locker, Shohei is ready to call it a day. Oh, I see… You know, you clean that stuff out if you think you’re going to have the surgery soon. And he didn’t even do a complete sweep. You can still find things within.

Because of scheduling conflicts, Ohtani did not have the surgery on Saturday, but he will likely have it done soon. There were no more specifics that Minasian could provide.

It’s a shame,” the bullpen ace Carlos Estévez stated. He was sincerely attempting a return.

Estévez continued, “I told him, ‘I genuinely admire what you do. “‘It’s incredible to see a guy put in as much effort as you have to keep becoming better; it’s truly inspiring. That is something I greatly value, so I won’t alter. Just keep doing what you’re doing; don’t change who you are or try to impress others.

Ohtani, the 2021 AL MVP, tore his oblique muscle on September 4 due to a bad swing during batting practice. He didn’t show up in the dugout and went straight to the clubhouse, missing the first of 11 games in a row. Ohtani was initially scheduled to start Monday’s game against the Seattle Mariners, but he was ultimately scratched. Ohtani had only missed two previous games this season.

Ohtani’s agent, Nez Balelo, had spoken optimistically about the pitcher and his treatment choices after the torn UCL he suffered last month, just before the oblique ιnjury. Balelo called the surgery “inevitable” for Ohtani and expressed confidence in his ability to return to baseball as a designated hitter for the 2019 season.

After missing his final pitching start on August 23 with an elbow ailment, Ohtani still managed to Һit.286 with 18 walks in 10 games.

Ohtani entered Saturday second in the majors in on-base plus slugging percentage (1.066) and third in home runs (44), after missing the previous 11 games. He also topped the team in runs scored (95), walks (91), hits (151), triples (8), and steals (20). With 10 victories, 167 strikeouts, and a 3.14 ERA, he was the team’s top starting pitcher.

But the strеss of his job eventually led to physical issues that exposed his humanity. Ohtani has been dealing with a cracked fingernail, a finger blister, finger sensitivity, a finger cramp, body cramping, and weariness in the lead-up to his UCL tear.

Nonetheless, Ohtani’s return to being a two-way player has been met with little skepticism. Ohtani’s best years have come after his Tommy John surgery in 2018.

So what if it doesn’t? Estévez remarked that “a lot of me𝚗 out there have two [Tommy John surgery]. And at the moment, things are looking up for them.

I immediately consider him the best player I’ve ever seen,” Nevin continued. This is something I know he will keep doing. Like most things he tries, he’ll succeed at the rehabilitation process. I anticipate him to be a high-quality contributor on both offense and defense.

Teammates reminisced on what it’s been like playing with Ohtani in a pregame interview on Saturday.

Pitcher Patrick Sandoval, whose locker is next to Ohtani’s, called it “just kind of a blessing to be able to watch him grow in this game and become the player he is.”

Catcher Logan O’Hoppe, who caught Ohtani’s first game of the season in March, said the thrill of sharing the field with the Japanese superstar never wore off.

O’Hoppe, who missed most of the season on the injured list with a ruptured labrum, said, “Days I didn’t take for granted.” It hurt so bad that I had to stay away even when he was pitching. I’m glad I was able to get such a good view. And I’m thankful that I got to see him at his finest as well.

When asked about Ohtani’s future, Nevin answered confidently.

A key player, as Nevin put it. I stated the same thing last year. But there’s no way it won’t be everyone’s pick this year. It can’t be done.

“Of course I want him, I meаn everybody wants Shohei Ohtani,” Nevin chimed in. “Thirty teams will be interested in signing Shohei Ohtani. If he were to return, it would meаn everything to me.