Ohtani declined imaging after leaving Aug. 3 start with cramping, Angels GM Perry Minasian says

By: Charles O’brien, The Associated Press Posted: 5:30 PM CDT Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani declined imaging after he left an Aug. 3 start against Seattle after four innings and 59 pitches because of cramping in his pitching hand and fingers, Los Angeles Angels general manager Perry Minasian said Saturday.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 26/08/2023 (803 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Ohtani returned to the mound six days later and beat San Francisco, throwing 97 pitches over six innings while allowing only an unearned run. He then skipped a turn, citing fatigue.

Ohtani was removed from Wednesday’s game against Cincinnati after his 26th pitch, and a scan revealed a torn ulnar collateral ligament.

Los Angeles Angels' Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, runs for a double during the third inning of the team's baseball game against the New York Mets, Friday, Aug. 25, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

“The only time we had imaging was after he felt the injury,” Minasian said. “The imaging was offered earlier in the year and him and his representation turned it down.”

Ohtani remained in the game against the Mariners as the designated hitter and went 1 for 4 with an RBI. Minasian didn’t fault the lack of a scan then.

“I understand why,” he said. “It was a cramp in his finger, and they didn’t think it warranted imaging.”

Ohtani has not spoken with the media since the injury was revealed Wednesday. He is remaining in the Angels lineup as the DH and the team said Ohtani hasn’t determined whether he will have a second Tommy John surgery.

“Me, personally, I have zero regrets,” Minasian said. “There’s injuries that happen in baseball. This is an unfortunate one. It’s obviously tough for us, tough for him, and tough for the game.”

Ohtani had his first Tommy John surgery in late 2018, following his AL Rookie of the Year season. Minasian said this injury was to a different part of the elbow and produced a different set of symptoms.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb