Injured Angels superstar Ohtani won't pitch again this year with free agency looming

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

The Angels don't yet know whether the major league homers leader and 10-game winner will need surgery to repair the UCL ligament nearly five years after the two-way superstar had his first Tommy John surgery in late 2018 following his American League Rookie of the Year season.

Ohtani left the mound abruptly Wednesday in the second inning of his start against Cincinnati in the opener of a doubleheader.

The injury will have a massive effect on baseball's free agent market this winter with Ohtani headed to free agency. The uniquely valuable AL MVP front-runner was expected to receive the most lucrative contract offers in baseball history after six landmark seasons with the Angels, but now much will depend on the health of his pitching elbow.

"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.

Ohtani sits atop the majors with 44 homers after connecting for a longball in the first inning of the first game Wednesday. He's also 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA as the Angels' ace on the mound.

Ohtani insisted on playing as the Angels' designated hitter in the nightcap even after the team discovered the tear while running tests between games.

"He's a pro," Minasian said. "Didn't faze him. 'Am I OK to play tonight? I want to play tonight.' He's a mentally strong individual. To do what he does, you have to be. How he handled it and the fact that he played, to me, is beyond impressive."

Minasian didn't think the unprecedented demands of two-way play finally might have got to Ohtani, who hasn't