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News, Blog and GuidesThe LA Angels will miss the pitching services of Shohei Ohtani at Friday’s game due to a sore arm that could keep him from the mound the rest of the season.
Gidget AlikpalaG_AlikpalaUpdate: Sep 16th, 2021 20:30 EDT
Jamie SabauAFP
The 2018 Rookie of the Year was playing catch on Wednesday when he started feeling the pain in his right arm.
Los Angeles Angels manager Joe Maddon said that if the pain persists, Ohtani will not pitch for the team during their Friday game against the Chicago White Sox, according to the Associated Press.
Shohei Ohtani won't pitch for the Angels on Friday because of a sore right arm that could sideline him as a pitcher for the rest of the season. https://t.co/IJgIbLOOtl
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 16, 2021
Maddon said that during a meeting, they discussed the chances that Ohtani will be sidelined for the rest of the season as a pitcher if the arm’s state does not improve. But the manager says that at the moment there are no plans for the likely AL MVP to be medically evaluated.
Ohtani to continue as designated hitter
The arm soreness will not stop Ohtani from pursuing his goal of getting the home run title. He merited an All-Star bid as a pitcher as well as a designated hitter two months ago, and he will likely continue as a designated hitter for the team.
The 27-year-old is ranked second in the major leagues with 44 home runs, tied with Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez and behind Toronto Blue Jays hitter Vladimir Guerrero who has 45.
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