By Oh Sang-jin Reporter= After missing 11 consecutive games, Shohei Ohtani (29, Los Angeles Angels) is likely out for the season.

“After the 11-2 loss to the Detroit Tigers, Ohtani’s locker was cleaned out, and there were large bags in front of him,” MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, reported on Nov. 16 (KST).

Ohtani missed 11 consecutive games, last appearing on April 4 against the Oakland Athletics. After complaining of discomfort in his side during warm-ups on May 5, Ohtani was examined and found to have inflammation in his right side. He made several attempts to return to the field, but was unable to fully recover and was scratched.

“If he comes to me and says, ‘I’m ready,’ I’m going to start him,” Angels manager Phil Nevin said after Ohtani was ruled out of the Seattle Mariners game. “He’ll have 15 days off (without a game) and then he’ll play at home on the 16th.” Before the game against Detroit on the 16th, Ohtani took part in a pregame workout but was not in the lineup.

In 135 games as a hitter this season, Ohtani is batting .304 with 44 home runs, 95 RBIs, 20 doubles, and a 1.066 OPS. His extended absence has pushed him out of the top spot in the major hitting categories, but he’s already a strong MVP candidate based on his current performance. On the mound, Ohtani has also been one of the league’s top ace pitchers, going 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 23 starts and striking out 167 batters in 132 innings.메이저놀이터

However, on August 24, in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Ohtani was removed from the game after just 1⅓ innings due to arm pain, and a medical examination revealed elbow ligament damage, putting him out for the season as a pitcher. Ohtani’s decision to focus on hitting for the remainder of the season was compounded by a side injury.

With the Angels’ chances of playing fall ball virtually gone, Ohtani doesn’t have to risk the injury. As a pending free agent, it’s possible this could be his last season with the Angels.