Two-way star Shohei Ohtani has been ruled out of the Los Angeles Angels’ next game against the Oakland Athletics due to suffering a sore arm. Angels manager Joe Maddon reflected on the severity of the issue before Thursday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, explaining: “If there’s any kind of lingering soreness, you may not see him pitch.”
Ohtani first started feeling pain in his arm during pitching practice on Wednesday. According to Maddon, Ohtani’s condition was first discussed during a morning meeting, at which time he and his staff first addressed Ohtani’s distressing predicament.
Despite the uncertainty around the pitcher’s situation, no plans have been made for the player to consult with a medical professional on the matter. He has also not returned to pitching practice.
While he may not be pitching, Ohtani remains a designated hitter for the Angels, ranking second in the major leagues with 44 home runs and 74 extra-base hits as the Angels went into their game with the White Sox, in which they defeated the Chicago-based team 9-3.