Angels News: Shohei Ohtani Tears UCL, Done Pitching for the Season

Terrible news for Shohei Ohtani and all of Major League Baseball.

In devastating news out of Angels camp, the club just announced that superstar two way player Shohei Ohtani has a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow and is done pitching for the year. 

Ohtani will not pitch again this season. But no word yet on if he’ll need surgery, Perry Minasian said.

— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) August 24, 2023

There is no immediate word on the degree of the tear in his ligament so the club isn't ready to announce the next course of action for the All-Star.

Ohtani exited his start in game one of Wednesday's doubleheader after recording just 4 outs against the Reds with what was termed "arm fatigue." The ace didn't speak with reporters between games on Wednesday afternoon. The Angels lost both games of the doubleheader.

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

The free-agent-to-be previously tore his UCL back in 2018 and underwent successful Tommy John elbow reconstructive surgery. He didn't pitch at all in 2019 but did come back to DH for most of that season. He got back on the mound late in 2020 making two starts before becoming the ace level pitcher he's turned into since 2021.

Ohtani finishes his season going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts.

More to come later on Halos Today from the clubhouse and manager Phil Nevin.