“Since I Had the Surgery…”: $330M Phillies Star Offers Shohei Ohtani Hope While Sharing Candid Recovery Thoughts Months After Surgery

Injuries are regular in sports. However, some are more severe than expected. The sports world has witnessed several examples of players ending their careers after injury. While there are more examples of players getting back victorious to the game after complicated surgeries. Philadelphia Phillies is a shining example of the latter.

After Bryce Harper, Shohei Ohtani also has a UCL tear that requires the most complicated Tommy John surgery to be fully reconstructed. This surgery is difficult, and the healing process requires time. However, a recent Instagram video shared Harper’s experience of the surgery and recovery process. Fans assume it can be a hope for the Los Angeles Angels’ Designated Hitter.

Bryce Harper shared his quickest recovery experience, giving Ohtani hopes

Shohei Ohtani has been all over the MLB discussion recently. Of course, for his excellent performances and Free Agency, but mostly for his UCL tear and Tommy John Surgery. Since the 29-year-old MLB star has injured his right elbow ligament, things took a twisted turn for him. The General Manager of the Angels even announced that he probably can’t pitch for the remaining Season. Though Ohtani is all right now, he has to go through Tommy John surgery to reconstruct the UCL.

This surgery process requires time to heal. Ohtani found hope in another legend’s recovery experience when things seemed hopeless for him. That is Philadelphia Phillies 7x All-Star Bryce Harper. Harper tore his UCL in the 2022 Season and had his surgery after a month of his injury. While the post-surgery recovery takes 9 to 12 months, this 2x NL MVP returned to the game in less than 5 months. It was the fastest recovery in MLB history.

While talking about his experience of the healing process in an interview, Harper mentioned he is still recovering from it. The baseball star said, “You know we’re four months into throwing. Eight months since I had the surgery.“ He gave his teammates all the credit saying, “We got such a great group of guys. I can lean on them whenever I want, whenever I can and that’s the best part of being a Philadelphia Phillies. We are a family.” 

Read More: “Why Would He..?”: Bryce Harper Takes Audacious Gamble With Appearance to Overcome Slump but It Backfires, Infuriating Fans Instead

This experience provides Ohtani fans with some hope that their idol will also recover quickly and can be able to pitch again, just like he used to do. This will probably have an impact on Ohtani’s Free Agency. At least, that’s what his fans think. There’s even a probability for Ohtani to leave the Los Angeles Angels.

Will Shohei Ohtani leave the Los Angeles Angels?

There’s no specific information about him leaving his first-ever MLB team, but fans and insiders reporting that Ohtani is looking for the World Series. Since he debuted in MLB, he has had no World Series, and this time, he wants to end the trophy drought he is suffering.

With the Los Angeles Angels’ current league table situation, qualifying for the playoffs is far away. They have mostly suffered through defeats this season. So, probably Ohtani will enter the Free Agency with his eyes and mind open to other offers, and even with his torn UCL, he is one of the highest-rated Free Agents this year. The offer assumption that fans make for him is around $500 million.

What do you think of Ohtani’s UCL Surgery? Will he be able to pitch again in this season? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

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