Baseball fans are witnessing history. Anyone who may have witnessed the phenomenon of Babe Ruth is long gone. At first, Shohei Ohtani was called Babe Ruth 2.0. But fans and analysts quickly backtracked when they realized, no one quite like the Japanese sensation has existed before. Sho-time has long surpassed the Sultan of Swat and he’s done it in style. But unfortunately, all good times must come to an end.

The Los Angeles Angels player has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament, the true degree of which is yet unknown. Nevertheless, offseason surgery will almost certainly happen, Ohtani’s second in the last five years. If it takes place, the Angles star will join a very grim club of rare pitchers, and yet, he is still predicted to break the contract ceiling this offseason. But what is most worrying is the question – is there a possibility that he will pitch once more in the future?

Shohei Ohtani’s Two-Way Experiment Put on Hold

When Shohei Ohtani arrived in the States, he was already struggling with a UCL tear and had to undergo Tommy John surgery. His pitching was put on hold for almost two years as he served as a designated hitter for the Angels. Then in 2021, he returned to top form and continued as one of the most dominant pitchers and hitters the league had ever seen.

With a league-leading 44 home runs, batting .304 is no joke. But what makes the 29-Year-Old special is that at the same time, he also holds a 3.14 ERA and 10-5 record as a starting pitcher. It’s mind-boggling and yet, here it is. But all the wear and tear had to eventually take a toll on his body, and now Ohtani will not pitch again this season.

Last time, Ohtani’s surgery took place in October 2018, which ruled out pitching for all of 2019. As if that wasn’t enough, he also missed time for a knee surgery. Then the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season saw Sho-time try to pitch, but arm discomfort kept him away from the mound. It was only in 2021 that Shohei became Shohei Ohtani, a two-way phenomenon.

If a second surgery is had, and it most likely will be, 2024 will not see Ohtani as a pitcher. 2025 would be hopeful wishing, and in the meantime, the Angels slugger’s hitting may be affected too. How will his upcoming free agency go?

$500M Shohei Ohtani Still Expected to Hit the Jackpot

In 2022, Aaron Judge’s free agency was a much-talked-about event all year that culminated with a resigning in the Bronx. Shohei Ohtani’s free agency is similarly expected to break the internet, the likes of which have never been seen in baseball before.

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

And what happens when the most talked about free agent ends his season in injury? He is still expected to break the bank with at least a $500 million contract, as Jon Heyman put it.

Teams will still want to take a chance on a historic player, even if they cannot experience the greatest show in baseball immediately afterward. The question remains – where will Shohei Ohtani head next?

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