Angels hope Shohei Ohtani could play this season
It seems the demise of Shohei Ohtani has been greatly exaggerated. The Los Angeles Angels are optimistic their electric rookie will play again this season.
Angels fans were justifiably very concerned when news broke that Shohei Ohtani had suffered an injury to his UCL. That is, after all, a precursor for Tommy John surgery for a lot of pitchers. Fortunately, it seems that reports claiming Ohtani wouldn’t play again until 2020 seem to be off-base.
Instead, there’s optimism inside the Angels organization that Ohtani will be back this season. In particular, team officials believe he’s capable of returning as a hitter. They haven’t ruled out the possibility of him pitching again in 2018, but that’s far from a certainty.
Even as a hitter, Ohtani gives the Angels lineup a tremendous boost. He’s hitting a respectable .289 average with six home runs in just 114 at bats. His sweet swing from the left side of the plate allows him to be one of the better designated hitters in the American League.
It’s very likely his hitting can improve as the year progresses. For one thing, he entered the 2018 season with almost no familiarity with major league pitching. It’s logical to assume he can hit the ball with more authority as he grows more accustomed to the competition.
In a strange way, his performance could also benefit from taking pitching out of the equation. Most scouts thought the idea of Ohtani succeeding as a hitter and pitcher in his rookie season was an impossible goal. He’s soundly debunked that theory, but it doesn’t mean that his role as a starting pitcher hasn’t detracted from what Ohtani can do at the plate.
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No matter how you slice it, this could be great news for the Angels organization and the sport. Ohtani is a bright young prospect who has managed to capture the interest of fans all around the globe. Losing him for over a year would have been bad for the Angels and the sport. Fortunately, it appears he’ll be back on the diamond this season.