REVEALED: Elbow Procedure "Inevitable" For Shohei Ohtani

While he continues to DH and chase an MVP award, two-way-turned-one-way star Shohei Ohtani continues to nurse a torn ligament in his elbow. And today, his agent has revealed that a procedure "of some kind"—surgery or some type of non-surgical procedure—is "inevitable."

Balelo says surgery of some kind is “inevitable” for Ohtani.

— Dylan Hernández (@dylanohernandez) September 4, 2023

Agent Nez Balelo told reporters that his tear is in a different part of his UCL than the last time (2018). It’s at the bottom of his UCL; the original repair from his 2018 Tommy John surgery remains intact. Balelo called this new injury a "best-case scenario", and said they are still weighing his options, and whether it's another full Tommy John, a less invasive surgery, or some other procedure, is still in question.

The agent insisted that Ohtani says he will definitely still be a DH next season, and “there’s not a question in (his) mind” that he’ll eventually be able to return to the mound as well. 

Of course, the question then becomes, for whom will he be doing all of this? The former (and likely future) MVP becomes a free agent this winter, and most signs had been pointing towards him leaving the Los Angeles Angels. 

How much this new development impacts that—as well as what his next contract looks like—remains to be seen. 

Ohtani is currently sitting on 44 HR, 95 RBIs, and an MLB-leading 1.066 OPS and 182 OPS+. His pitching numbers finish with a 10-5, a 3.14 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. 

Photo: Robert Edwards-USA TODAY Sports