The only thing Shohei Ohtani couldn’t do Wednesday night was pitch.
Ohtani homered twice during a huge night at the plate after getting bad news about his injured elbow, and the Los Angeles Angels cruised to a 9-3 victory over the Texas Rangers.
Perhaps headed for Tommy John surgery, the two-way rookie sensation went 4 for 4 with three RBIs, four runs and a stolen base to power the Angels. About two hours before the game, the team announced Ohtani has new damage in his right elbow and ligament-replacement surgery has been recommended.
“Obviously, disappointment in the news today,” manager Mike Scioscia said.
Scioscia wasn’t surprised that Ohtani could keep his composure, though.
“He’s mentally tough in any situation he’s ever in,” the manager added. “Tonight, he was a hitter. He didn’t think about what the future is and what the decision is he’s got to make for his elbow. He was out there playing baseball and hitting the ball.”
“There’s more questions out there right now than answers. We’ll take it one step at a time,” Scioscia said before the game. “There’s a lot of consulting that Shohei will do with doctors and just see what the best course of action is, and we’ll see where we are.”
The club said the Japanese star had an MRI earlier in the day that revealed the problem in his ulnar collateral ligament.
Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Ohtani hasn’t formally decided to have Tommy John surgery. Eppler and Ohtani plan to have an in-depth conversation about his future Monday after the Angels return from their road trip.
“We committed to each other in this process, and we will get through it together as a team,” Eppler said. “But I do feel disappointment for the people in that clubhouse, and primarily Shohei.”
