Shohei Ohtani shifts focus to elbow procedure as season ends - ESPN

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Shohei Ohtani underwent an MRI on Friday afternoon that showed lingering irritation in his right oblique, prompting him to shut down his season as a hitter and shift his focus to treating the torn ulnar collateral ligament that previously ended his season as a pitcher, Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Saturday.

«I don't have details on the procedure,» Minasian said, «but obviously he wants to get that as quick as he can and start getting ready for '24.»

Ohtani, a free agent at season's end, plans on continuing to hit and pitch down the road, and his agent, Nez Balelo of CAA, previously said he will be ready to at least hit «when the bell rings» at the start of the 2024 season.

Ohtani could use platelet-rich plasma and stem-cell therapy to treat the tear in his UCL, but it seems more likely that he'll go the surgical route, either with Tommy John surgery or an internal bracing procedure or some combination of both. Any invasive procedure would probably rule out Ohtani as a pitcher in 2024.

«Shohei — he's one of a kind,» Minasian said. «Great player, great person. I think anybody that knows him, has a chance to talk to him, be around him — he's a team guy. He's a pretty special guy, he's a pretty special player, and it's been a pleasure to get to know him these last three years and hopefully he's here for a long time.»

Ohtani, 29, suffered an oblique strain during a rare session of outdoor batting practice on Sept. 4 and proceeded to miss the next 11 games. He left Angel Stadium at around 4 p.m. PT on Friday to undergo an MRI, Minasian said, then received his results early in the Angels' ensuing game against the Detroit Tigers. Media members entered the home clubhouse at Angel