Shohei Ohtani, the two-way star from the Los Angeles Angels, has been dealing with a significant injury to his pitching elbow. On September 5th, 2018, Ohtani was diagnosed with a Grade 2 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. This injury has caused uncertainty for Ohtani and the Angels regarding his future free agency.
Ohtani had been pitching with the injury since June, but the Angels had been monitoring it closely. After an MRI revealed the extent of the damage, the Angels decided to shut down Ohtani for the remainder of the season. This was a difficult decision for both Ohtani and the Angels, as it meant that Ohtani would not be able to contribute to the team’s playoff push.
The injury also means that Ohtani’s free agency is now in doubt. The Angels have already said that they will not be offering him a long-term contract, which means that he will likely have to wait until after the 2019 season to become a free agent. This could be a major blow to Ohtani’s earning potential, as teams may be hesitant to invest in a player with an injury history.
Ohtani has already begun his rehabilitation process, and is expected to be ready for spring training in 2019. However, there is still a lot of uncertainty surrounding his future. It is unclear how well he will be able to recover from the injury and how it will affect his performance on the field.
For now, all we can do is wait and see how Ohtani’s recovery progresses. It is a difficult situation for both Ohtani and the Angels, but hopefully he will be able to make a full recovery and return to his previous form. Only time will tell if he will be able to reach his full potential and become a free agent in 2020.
