2 min read • November 08, 2023
Posted in
Los Angeles Angels' two-way standout, Shohei Ohtani, transitioned to free agency officially on Monday, marking a pivotal moment in his career. However, lingering uncertainty shrouds his future owing to his recent Tommy John surgery.
On Sept. 19, Ohtani underwent his second Tommy John surgery due to a torn UCL ligament in his elbow, a setback influencing discussions about his trajectory in the sport.
He will not pitch in 2024, but can continue to hit as he did late in the season after the UCL tear, according to the Pro Baseball Docs. When he is ready to pitch again, Ohtani faces an uphill battle to be effective. Over 40 pitchers have undergone two Tommy John surgeries in their careers, but the list of pitchers who have returned effectively is relatively small.
Following the surgery, Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, conveyed a statement addressing the procedure's purpose and Ohtani's recovery timeline. Dr. Neal ElAttrache, in the statement, outlined the repair and reinforcement of the elbow's ligament and projected a complete recovery by the 2024 opening day, anticipating a return to both hitting and pitching by 2025.
The 29-year-old previously underwent his first Tommy John surgery in Oct. 2018, delaying his return to pitching until the onset of the 2021 season.
Expected to serve solely as a designated hitter throughout the 2024 season, Ohtani's plan to resume pitching in 2025 may complicate his forthcoming free agency deal, rumored to be in the range of $500 million.
Despite this uncertainty, Ohtani's remarkable performance, likely to secure his second AL MVP award in three seasons, hitting .304 with 44 home runs and an OPS of 1.066, prompts teams to strategize around his unique skill set.
“I had a procedure done on my elbow earlier this morning and everything went very well,” Ohtani posted on his Instagram account. “Thank you very much for everyone’s prayers and kind words. It was very unfortunate that I couldn’t finish out the year on the field, but I will be rooting for the boys until the end. I will work as hard as I can and do my best to come back on the diamond stronger than ever.”
To receive our injury analysis first - sign up here for our free notifications and sign up here free newsletter. Because Injuries Matter!
Drawing parallels, Philadelphia Phillies' Bryce Harper's recovery timeline from a similar surgery in Nov. 2022 indicates a comparable path for Ohtani's hitting role in 2024. Harper, despite a different arm injury configuration, returned as a designated hitter in May 2023. He hit .293 with 21 home runs, and 72 RBIs in 126 games.
Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery the first time on his right elbow on Oct. 1, 2018. He returned as a designated hitter on May 7, 2019. He hit .286 with 18 home runs in 106 games the season after having the procedure on his right elbow. He returned to the pitching mound after his first Tommy John surgery on July 26, 2020.
Reports speculate a potentially expedited recovery for Ohtani this time, yet exercising caution remains prudent when dealing with a healing UCL ligament. Given his versatility, Ohtani's multifaceted contributions to a team remain a valuable asset, even during the recovery phase.
Written by
