A gloomy cloud hangs over the Los Angeles Angels and MLB fans at large, as news broke that both Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout face lengthy spells on the sidelines due to injuries.
Ohtani was pulled from Wednesday’s clash against the Cincinnati Reds, initially citing “arm fatigue.” Subsequent reports revealed a UCL tear, effectively sidelining the Japanese sensation for the rest of the 2023 season.
Shohei Ohtani has a tear in his UCL, Angels GM Perry Minasian told reporters in Anaheim. It is still unclear, he said, whether it will require surgery. He will not pitch the rest of the season.
Ohtani had Tommy John surgery in October 2018. The elbow continues to be the worst.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) August 24, 2023
The same day the Angels lose a crucial doubleheader and fall 10 games out of the Wild Card, they lose Shohei Ohtani to a torn UCL and MIke Trout heads back to the IL.
August 23 is officially the day their season ended. It also could be the last day Ohtani ever played for them.
— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) August 24, 2023
FUCK.
Not Shohei Ohtani man, doesn’t deserve this. At least he can still bay though. If he gets Tommy John he will most likely not come back til 2025.
The Angels don’t deserve him or Trout.
The Dodgers will take care of them
Both. Come to LA, asap. Forget Orange County https://t.co/o6h1Np4wVA— Ezekiel⚔️ (@e_figueroaaa) August 24, 2023
Meanwhile, Trout, fresh off a hand injury recovery, heads back to the injured list. He was already ruled out of the Reds doubleheader due to discomfort in his left hand, hinting at a deeper issue.
The Angels community is understandably heartbroken. The duo represented the brightest spots in a challenging season, and with Ohtani’s free agency looming, some fear they may have seen his last swing for the team.
One fan, reacting to Jeff Passan’s report on Ohtani’s injury, lamented, “This is the worst day in American sports history.”
Another queried, “What did Ohtani, Trout, and the Angels do to the Baseball Gods?”
The way forward for the Angels remains uncertain, but the consensus among fans suggests that recovering from such setbacks will be an uphill battle.