Los Angeles Angels: Part of Shohei Ohtani getting closer to return
The Los Angeles Angels appear to be closer to getting at least one part of Shohei Ohtani back to the roster.
The Los Angeles Angels find themselves in a strange place with Shohei Ohtani. As the first true two way player in decades, the Angels have to handle any injury much differently than they otherwise would have. That extends to his sprained UCL, for which the wunderkind received a PRP and stem cell injections. However, as the sprain is in his pitching elbow, and the lower elbow as he swings a bat, the thought was that Ohtani could return to the lineup as a hitter before he returns to the mound.
To that end, the Angels are moving forward with part of Ohtani’s rehab process. He has been given the green light to begin swinging the bat again, potentially paving the way for his return to the lineup, even if he is not ready to set foot on the mound.
Shohei Ohtani can start hitting again, and will be re-evaluated in three weeks whether he’ll pitch again this season, #Angels GM Billy Eppler says
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 28, 2018
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Even if the Angels get half of Ohtani back, that would be a shot in the arm for the lineup. He has preformed surprisingly well as the Angels primary designated hitter, producing a stellar .289/.372/.535 batting line with eight doubles and six homers in 129 plate appearances. Add in his 3.10 ERA and 1.135 WHiP, along with 61 strikeouts in 49.1 innings, and Ohtani has been everything the Angels could have hoped for.
It is even possible that Los Angeles receives an improved version of Ohtani in the batter’s box. Prior to his stint on the DL, he had been going through a bit of a rough patch at the plate, hitting at a .200/.350/.300 clip in his last 39 plate appearances. While he drew nine walks, Ohtani also struck out 12 times, and had three doubles as his extra base hits. That elbow could have been more problematic than realized.
The Angels also have an interesting dilemma. As Ohtani has been cleared to begin hitting, but not pitching, they will need to come up with a plan to get him ready for the mound. Should these injections go well, the Angels would certainly want to get as much out of their star as possible, especially given the status of their pitching staff. Even if he appears as an occasional reliever, Ohtani would still provide plenty of value on the mound.
Next: Angels lose Cozart for season
The Los Angeles Angels are getting closer to having half of Shohei Ohtani back on the roster. That could provide quite the boost to their lineup.