The Los Angeles Angels may have lost Shohei Ohtani as a pitcher. Last Wednesday against the Cincinnati Reds, the Japanese sensation retired from the mound early after experiencing some pain. As it turned out, he had a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, and it was devastating. Doctors ruled that Ohtani will not again pitch this season. Possibly next season too. And he’s not the only player the Halos will lose.

Angels general manager Perry Minasian has stated that the pitcher will look for a second opinion before he decides on surgery. Sho-time already underwent Tommy John surgery on his elbow in 2018, and a second one is not out of the question. But what is most worrying is that this injury seems to have taken the Halos by surprise. And it may cost them the league’s highest-paid player – Mike Trout.

The Angels’ Bizarre Shohei Ohtani Confession May Prove Catastrophic

Newsday writer Laura Albanese shared some shocking news on Twitter recently – Wednesday’s diagnosis was the first time the Angels decided to do some imaging on Shohei Ohtani’s elbow. One would imagine that it had been troubling him throughout the season, given the tremendous way he pitched.

But the team related that the pitcher only complained of some arm fatigue, so they didn’t consider it anything serious. The injury happened as if out of nowhere. This serious neglect could drive away Mike Trout too, who is recovering from an injury of his own. The $426m star was activated off the injured list after missing 38 games for a hamate fracture in his left wrist.

Just 48 hours later, Trout had to go back because it had been too hurried a decision. And in part to blame will be the Halos for their neglect in taking the injury seriously. If Mike Trout is dealt with in the same way as Shohei Ohtani, might the loyal Angel finally be forced to leave?

Ohtani will not pitch again this season, possibly in 2024 too. Trout’s return has no set date and in the meantime, he’s turned his focus to golf. He might never choose the diamond over the greens ever again. Will it be the Angels’ fault? They’re certainly to blame in Ohtani’s case, at least partly.

In Money-Minded America, Shohei Ohtani is One of a Kind

When Ohtani flew from Japan, he shocked the MLB world by joining not a powerhouse franchise but the usually struggling Los Angeles team. Some wondered if it was because of the city’s proximity to his home country. Some wondered if it was other promising players on the team, like Mike Trout. Many, however, realized it might be the fact that the Halos wouldn’t hamper his two-way play.

READ MORE – Is Shohei Ohtani a Better Hitter or Pitcher? Everything to Know About His Two-Way Abilities

Most teams might try to limit his pitching or hitting to minimize the chance of damage, but not the Angels, who could use each skill. It certainly showed that Shohei Ohtani wasn’t too concerned with a huge contract either, and the situation is the same now. Free agents are usually mindful of the next contracts that might come their way, so they prefer to keep their bodies healthy.

But Ohtani seemingly couldn’t care less about numbers, and just wants to play. Perhaps the Angels thought that if he was in pain, he would let them know. After all, why wouldn’t the pitcher want big numbers on his next paycheck? But Shotime is a unicorn for more than one reason, and he’s always all about baseball.

Now fans can only hope his injury doesn’t hamper his hitting too.

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