Shohei Ohtani’s return as a pitcher for the LA Angels will be short-lived. The team confirmed on Monday that Ohtani is dealing with forearms/elbow strain and won’t throw at least 4-6 weeks.

Given the Angels’ timeline and MLB’s short season in 2020, Ohtani is probably done with pitching this year. However, thanks to his dual ability, the 26-year-old Japanese will still be able to contribute as the designated hitter.

Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2018 and only returned to the mound at the beginning of this season. However, his comeback was far from spectacular as he didn’t even go through the first inning in his first start in 2020. He lasted up to second innings in the start against Houston Astros and had to undergo an MRI after the match due to discomfort in his pitching arm.

At the bats, Ohtani is .148 in six games this season while hitting two home runs and seven RBIs.

Shohei Ohtani could pitch again this season in theory, but it is highly unlikely that the Angels will take that road. The organization has been patient with Ohtani so far, and they are expected to take a cautious approach in order to have him ready for 2021. Reportedly, the Angels also remain committed to Ohtani as a dual-threat and are not considering making him exclusively a hitter.

Since coming to MLB in 2018, Ohtani has been hitting .281 with 42 home runs and 130 RBIs. In his rookie season, he also pitched in 10 games, having 4-2 record with 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts.

The post Angels’ Shohei Ohtani Probably Done with Pitching in 2020 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Los Angeles Angels intend to use Shohei Ohtani’s talents in full this season. According to Angels general manager Billy Eppler, Ohtani will return to being a two-way player for the team in 2020.

Ohtani excels as both pitcher and designated hitter, but Angels had to limit him to just hitting last season after he underwent a Tommy John surgery. But due to coronavirus pandemic delay, the 25-year-old had enough time to recover and is now ready to fill both roles once again.

“We’ll probably have a little bit more of a governor on him, at least at the outset,” Eppler told the media during a press conference on Tuesday. “He’s had a number of live [throwing sessions against hitters], but we want to up that intensity a little bit more and put him into a game situation.”

“We’re expecting him to be on the mound and stay on the mound and roll through spring training,” he added.

Angels’ manager Joe Maddon also confirmed that he expects to see Ohtani in the two-way role once the season kicks off. According to Maddon, the Japanese star should start as a pitcher one game a week, while hitting in three to four games between each pitching performance. 

Since joining Angels in 2018, Shohei Ohtani pitched 10 games, posting 4-2 record with 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts. As a hitter, Ohtani has .286 batting average with 40 home runs and 123 RBIs.

The post Shohei Ohtani Will Return to Being 2-Way Player for Angels in 2020 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Shohei Ohtani’s return as a pitcher for the LA Angels will be short-lived. The team confirmed on Monday that Ohtani is dealing with forearms/elbow strain and won’t throw at least 4-6 weeks.

Given the Angels’ timeline and MLB’s short season in 2020, Ohtani is probably done with pitching this year. However, thanks to his dual ability, the 26-year-old Japanese will still be able to contribute as the designated hitter.

Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery in October 2018 and only returned to the mound at the beginning of this season. However, his comeback was far from spectacular as he didn’t even go through the first inning in his first start in 2020. He lasted up to second innings in the start against Houston Astros and had to undergo an MRI after the match due to discomfort in his pitching arm.

At the bats, Ohtani is .148 in six games this season while hitting two home runs and seven RBIs.

Shohei Ohtani could pitch again this season in theory, but it is highly unlikely that the Angels will take that road. The organization has been patient with Ohtani so far, and they are expected to take a cautious approach in order to have him ready for 2021. Reportedly, the Angels also remain committed to Ohtani as a dual-threat and are not considering making him exclusively a hitter.

Since coming to MLB in 2018, Ohtani has been hitting .281 with 42 home runs and 130 RBIs. In his rookie season, he also pitched in 10 games, having 4-2 record with 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts.

The post Angels’ Shohei Ohtani Probably Done with Pitching in 2020 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The Los Angeles Angels intend to use Shohei Ohtani’s talents in full this season. According to Angels general manager Billy Eppler, Ohtani will return to being a two-way player for the team in 2020.

Ohtani excels as both pitcher and designated hitter, but Angels had to limit him to just hitting last season after he underwent a Tommy John surgery. But due to coronavirus pandemic delay, the 25-year-old had enough time to recover and is now ready to fill both roles once again.

“We’ll probably have a little bit more of a governor on him, at least at the outset,” Eppler told the media during a press conference on Tuesday. “He’s had a number of live [throwing sessions against hitters], but we want to up that intensity a little bit more and put him into a game situation.”

“We’re expecting him to be on the mound and stay on the mound and roll through spring training,” he added.

Angels’ manager Joe Maddon also confirmed that he expects to see Ohtani in the two-way role once the season kicks off. According to Maddon, the Japanese star should start as a pitcher one game a week, while hitting in three to four games between each pitching performance. 

Since joining Angels in 2018, Shohei Ohtani pitched 10 games, posting 4-2 record with 3.31 ERA and 63 strikeouts. As a hitter, Ohtani has .286 batting average with 40 home runs and 123 RBIs.

The post Shohei Ohtani Will Return to Being 2-Way Player for Angels in 2020 appeared first on SportzBonanza.