Ohtani out for the rest of the season with torn elbow ligament

Shohei Ohtani won’t be able to pitch for the rest of the season because of a torn ligament in his right elbow, Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Wednesday night.

It is yet unknown if Ohtani will need surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament for the second time. Ohtani had his first Tommy John surgery in late 2018, following his AL Rookie of the Year season.

Shohei Ohtani has a torn UCL and will not pitch again this season, per @JeffFletcherOCR pic.twitter.com/EsnRby5m1a

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 24, 2023

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“A tough day for him,” Minasian said. “Tough day for all of us.”

The two-way superstar left the mound abruptly in the second inning of his start against Cincinnati after throwing 26 pitches in the opener of a doubleheader. Ohtani, who hit his 44th homer in the first inning, wanted to play in the nightcap even after the tear was discovered while running tests between games.

Ohtani plans to get second opinions on whether surgery is necessary, Minasian said.

“If I was to bet on anybody bouncing back, he would be the guy,” said Minasian, who didn’t know the grade of Ohtani’s ligament tear. “I believe he’ll be back and he’ll be able to do both again at a very high level.”