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MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 8, 2023 Los Angeles, California, USA Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani 17 and center fielder Mike Trout 27 look on from the dugout during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles Dodger Stadium California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJaynexKamin-Onceax 20230708_tbs_aj4_503
via Imago
MLB, Baseball Herren, USA Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers Jul 8, 2023 Los Angeles, California, USA Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani 17 and center fielder Mike Trout 27 look on from the dugout during the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles Dodger Stadium California USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xJaynexKamin-Onceax 20230708_tbs_aj4_503
Anaheim has likely seen the last of Shohei Ohtani. The Japanese player will no longer be seen in the Los Angeles Angels’ reds, at least this season. Whiling away the last two weeks of his contract, free agency looms closer than ever for the injured Ohtani. But instead of giving a deserved explanation to fans, it looks like Sho-time has decided to bolt.
Unable to pitch for the rest of the season, the two-way sensation has not been able to take the plate either. While the right oblique injury will heal, Ohtani’s right elbow will require some sort of procedure for the UCL tear. And it’s likely that the surgery will not happen while he’s still employed by the Angels.
Shohei Ohtani Clears Out Locker, Flies to Japan
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The Japanese phenom’s upcoming free agency and the next landing place have been a hot topic of discussion all year long. Ohtani has preferred not to comment on it, instead focusing solely on the game. But everyone knew the end would come someday, and it’s here sooner rather than later. The Orange County Register’s Jeff Fletcher reported that Shohei Ohtani had cleared out his locker after Friday’s game.
Shohei Ohtani has cleared out his locker in the #Angels clubhouse.
The Angels say they will have no information on what has happened until tomorrow.
— Jeff Fletcher (@JeffFletcherOCR) September 16, 2023
He had been present ahead of the game, practicing in the batting cage. Later, reporters noticed that most of Sho-time’s belongings from his locker in the Angels clubhouse were missing. They were instead in an All-Star game bag. His water bottle was in the trash and no signs of him anywhere.
The management huddled around for almost 30 minutes but had no answers and delayed the announcements to Saturday. A fan later posted a video of Ohtani at an airport in Japan, further fueling the mystery. Caught in the middle of this crisis are fans, who don’t know how to deal with the sudden disappearance of their favorite player.
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Once Showered With Love, Sho-time Becomes the Recipient of Negative Feelings
Early on in the season, it was clear that Shohei Ohtani was in a prime position to give another stunning two-way performance. Baseball fans across the league, not just Angels fans, and even fellow players were in awe. But this abrupt departure has left many feeling dissatisfied. Has Ohtani really played his last game in Los Angeles?
Why was there no official goodbye? Is he just out for surgery and that led to the locker-clearing? Perhaps he finally felt the immense pressure of everything. Maybe he just wanted to go home, not be 6,000 miles away from it. But even his representative or agent didn’t make any statements.
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But hopefully, this afternoon will clear things up, as fans eagerly await an official statement from the Halos.
WATCH THIS STORY – Shohei Ohtani Heeds Legendary Japanese Comrade’s Advice Amid Mid-Game Ailment
