Shohei Ohtani (29), a ‘dual-style player’, is about to say goodbye to the LA Angels, whom he has been attached to for six years since his Major League (MLB) debut. Fans are also preparing to send him off in tears.
Japanese media News Post Seven reported on the 17th, “It is highly likely that Ohtani will leave the team after the season ends. Many fans are still wearing Ohtani’s uniform, and one fan expressed his gratitude in tears.”
On the 17th (Korean time), the Angels team announced, “Ohtani has been placed on the 10-day injured list (IL) due to a side injury,” and “He is not scheduled to appear for the remainder of the 2023 season.” Ohtani, who suffered from pain in his right side in September, ended up being unable to appear for the rest of the season.
Ohtani, who showed signs of fatigue in August, took the mound as a starting pitcher in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds on the 24th of last month, but was kicked out after 1⅓ innings, complaining of elbow pain. After the second game of the doubleheader, the Angels team officially announced, “Ohtani will not be able to play as a pitcher for the rest of the season due to a rupture of the medial collateral ligament (UCL) of his right elbow.”
Additionally, in early September, I felt pain in my right side during batting training. Accordingly, after appearing as designated hitter twice in the game against Oakland on the 4th 메이저사이트(no hits and 2 walks in 3 at-bats), he did not appear in 11 games. He did not appear even once as a substitute. Before the game against Seattle on the 12th, he was surprisingly included in the starting lineup as the number 2 designated hitter, but the Angels soon revised the roster and removed Ohtani’s name. Ohtani, who became a ‘ghost player’ only on the roster, ended up being placed on the injured list.
As a batter this year, Ohtani achieved a batting average of 0.304, 44 home runs, 95 RBI, 102 runs, 20 stolen bases, and an OPS of 1.066 in 135 games. As a pitcher, he entered the 2023 season with a record of 10 wins, 5 losses, and 3.14 ERA in 23 games, and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings. It’s finished. As of the 18th, Ohtani ranked first in WAR (win contribution compared to replacement player) on baseball statistics site FanGraphs and Baseball Reference. According to Baseball Reference (10.1), he is leading by a large gap with 2nd place Mookie Betts (LA Dodgers, 8.0), and according to Fangraphs (8.9), he is also ahead of Betts (8.1). If this continues, he can win the American League MVP in two years after 2021.
“Rest now, Otani, thank you so much.” Preparing to part ways with tears, 6 years of companionship with LAA imminent
News Post Seven reported, “As if they were regretting the separation, many fans came to the baseball stadium and wore uniforms with Ohtani’s number 17 on them, even in games where Ohtani did not appear.” Fans are already preparing in their hearts to part ways with Ohtani.
According to the media, a fan said in an interview with local American media, “You can rest now. We wish Otani success in the future even if he leaves the team.” This fan is said to have shed tears as he said goodbye to Otani, saying, “It was already a fun time. Thank you, Shohei.” That’s how much Ohtani left a strong impression on Angels fans over the past six years.
Even in the prime of Mike Trout (32), the best player in club history who won MVP three times, the Angels only advanced to the postseason once (2014). In addition, the present, where Ohtani is performing at his best, has not changed. The Angels are wasting the prime years of their two star players.