Angels’ Shohei Ohtani exits mound with cramps, still hits MLB-best 40th home run

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Shohei Ohtani was forced to exit the game early Thursday night against the Seattle Mariners and still managed to launch his 40th home run. 

Ohtani, getting the pitching start for the Los Angeles Angels, left the mound after four scoreless innings due to cramping in his pitching hand and fingers. 

Los Angeles Angels pitcher Shohei Ohtani, #17, pitching during an MLB baseball game against the Seattle Mariners played on Aug. 3, 2023 at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, California. (John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The two-way star stayed in the lineup as the Angels’ designated hitter and hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to give LA a 3-1 lead. 

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"He told me his right middle finger was cramping, and he couldn’t straighten it out, so he couldn’t pitch anymore," Angels manager Phil Nevin said, per MLB.com. "I’ve always trusted him and his body. It’s a finger, so I’m not overly concerned, but we’ll get it checked. He was obviously fine to hit."

It was the second time in the past week that cramps have impacted the Angels’ star, with Ohtani forced to leave two prior games early due to cramping. 

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"It’s not just my finger," Ohtani said through his translator. "I’ve been kind of getting cramps all over the place. I felt like maybe I could have gone another inning or two, but I’m trying to feel out how my hand feels, and it’s a 0-0 game. I couldn’t give up any runs, and I felt like it was better for the team to stop pitching there."

Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, #17 of the Los Angeles