When the Los Angeles Angels announced an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) injury to Shohei Ohtani, the future of not just the player but Major League Baseball as a whole was thrown into doubt. Over the last two seasons, Ohtani has taken the MLB by storm. Known as “Shotime,” the Japanese phenom has become the most marketable player in the MLB — a coveted two-way play capable of both hitting and pitching at the highest level. Now, all of that could be coming to an end.
Ohtani first utilized his unique ability to pitch and hit in high school, but he truly blossomed into a star with the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). When he joined the Angels in 2018, he became one of the few highlights for a struggling team. He initially experienced some success with an AL Rookie of the Year award in the same season, but a UCL sprain resulted in a Tommy John Surgery that cut his year short. The procedure, first developed in the 1970s, involves replacing a torn UCL with another tendon, with a recovery window ranging from 10 to 18 months.
After relatively unimpressive 2019 and 2020 campaigns, Ohtani experienced a breakout 2021 season that saw an All-Star appearance as both a pitcher and a Designated Hitter (DH), as well as an MVP. He broke numerous records and became a star, highly regarded as one of the best in the MLB. His skill both on the pitcher’s mound and at bat brought the introduction of the “Ohtani Rule” in 2022: A rule that a player can both pitch and hit as a DH in the same game. After once again wowing the world in 2022, all eyes turned to 2023 as a make-or-break year.
Following the 2023 season, Ohtani will become a free agent and is expected to sign one of the most lucrative contracts in sports history. Despite having two of the best players in baseball history (Ohtani and generational outfielder Mike Trout), the Angels haven’t won more than 80 games since 2018. Across the league, the expectation is that Ohtani would sign with a new team with better playoff prospects rather than return to LA.
Throughout the 2023 season, fans across the league attempted to campaign for Ohtani to join their teams. From photoshopped jersey swaps to social media messages, fans were vocal in their support for Ohtani. During an Aug. 15 game against the Texas Rangers, fans were heard chanting “Come to Texas” every time Ohtani came to bat.
Rumors of the expected bidding war revealed eye-catching figures for Ohtani’s services, with estimates ranging from $500 million to upwards of $700 million per the LA Times. These figures took into account both Ohtani’s pitching talent that raised Cy Young Award conversations and his batting ability, which has only been overshadowed by Aaron Judge’s record-breaking 2022 season.
With the injury, Ohtani’s future is in serious jeopardy due in large part to the long-term implications. After receiving Tommy John surgery, Shohei will not be able to pitch or throw at any level until at least 2025. This lengthy recovery will not only prevent the world from seeing Ohtani’s magic on the mound but raises serious risks for any team that wants to sign him. Tommy John surgery is a serious surgery for baseball players and other athletes, but there is never a promise that the player will play the same afterward. Adding in the fact that the UCL tear is his second injury to that arm in his career, many teams might shy away from the risk that he won’t return to form.
Of course, all of this isn’t to say that Ohtani won’t make a splash in MLB free agency. Even without his pitching arm, Ohtani can still hit, and hit well. As one of the best hitters in the game today, Ohtani blasts towering home runs with regularity, forcing speculation that teams would shell out hundreds of millions just for his batting ability alone. While Ohtani’s value may have diminished with this new development, it will be incredibly unlikely that his market will see a noticeable decrease.
At the end of the day, it’s difficult to tell what will happen following the end of the 2023 World Series in November. Ohtani will sign a multimillion dollar contract that will make the sport talk for weeks, and World Series expectations will immediately skyrocket for whichever city he decides to call home. Even without half of his arsenal, Ohtani is still regarded as one of the best players in baseball today, if not all time. He will continue to put fans in seats due to his sheer starpower alone. Whether he pitches at the same level or even at all, he will remain one of the brightest stars in baseball today. For now, all we can do is wait.
