Angels' Shohei Ohtani faces worst-case scenario: Tommy John surgery

by Felix Pantaleón

Los Angeles Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani needs Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and won’t return until 2020. He had been the front-runner for American League Rookie of the Year, an award which now could go to Yankees second baseman Gleyber Torres or third baseman Miguel Andujar.

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It’s the worst-case scenario for Angels rookie Shohei Ohtani. ESPN’s Pedro Gomez reports the phenom needs Tommy John surgery and is not expected to return to action until 2020.

The Angels placed Ohtani on the disabled list on Friday, with what they said was a sprained right elbow:

Shohei Ohtani will be placed on the disabled list with a grade 2 sprain of the UCL. He underwent a PRP and Stem Cell injection yesterday with Dr. Steve Yoon in Los Angeles. He will be re-evaluated in 3 weeks and we will update his plan of care at that time.

At the time, Tommy John surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament was only a possibility. After all, Yankees right-hander Masahiro Tanaka has been pitching with a partially torn UCL since 2015.

The Yankees had made a bid to sign Ohtani during the off-season, but he ruled out playing for any club on the east coast.

Given the recent injuries to Tanaka and Jordan Montgomery (who will miss the rest of the season after having Tommy John surgery), the Yankees were fortunate to not sign Ohtani, even though he looked like the real deal as a dual threat during his first two months in the majors.

As a hitter, Ohtani hit .289 with 6 home runs and 20 RBI. He’s had 114 at-bats in 34 games.

As a pitcher, Ohtani was 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA in nine starts.

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Ohtani had been considered the front-runner for American League Rookie of the Year.

His injury opens the door for Yankees rookies Gleyber Torres and Miguel Andujar.

Torres is hitting .297 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI.

Andujar is hitting .310 with 8 home runs and 28 RBI.