- MLB. Shohei Ohtani injury: Will he play again this season after UCL tear?
- MLB. Shohei Ohtani displays an act of Japanese politeness at the Angels dugout
Shohei Ohtani has suffered a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) located in his right elbow, which is a major blow for his team and the world of baseball.
As conveyed by Los Angeles Angels' general manager Perry Minasian on Wednesday evening, this unexpected development will lead to Ohtani's absence from pitching for the remainder of the season.
He is still expected to win the American League's MVP award this season, but this is a cruel blow for a player who was having such an impressive campaign.
What injury does Shohei Ohtani have?
The elbow's ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is frequently harmed due to repetitive strain from overhead movements.
Such actions are prevalent in sports involving throwing, with baseball a prime example of that.
The typical UCL injury is a gradual tear, although it can also result from a single traumatic incident.
The primary symptom of a UCL injury is inner elbow pain. In the case of a tear, it might feel like a sudden pop after throwing, accompanied by intense pain.
Treatment for UCL injuries varies from rest and physical therapy to surgical intervention, contingent on the tear's severity and the person's health objectives.
Non-surgical UCL tear recovery time can take from weeks to months, depending on the desired elbow range of motion, while surgery could mean a nine-month to 12-month absence.
Returning to throwing and competing mandates rigorous physical therapy to sufficiently fortify the elbow for stress.
Individual recovery rates vary, but rushing a return to sport is not advised as straining the graft prematurely heightens the risk of failure.
When will Shohei Ohtani return for Los Angeles Angels?
We already know that Ohtani won't be back for the Los Angeles Angels this season, and he might never play for them again given that his free agency is coming up.
Some believe the injury might actually increase the Angels' chances of keeping the Japanese player.
It's still too early to tell right now, just as his expected return date isn't known because it's not clear yet if he'll need surgery or not, something which majorly affects UCL tear recovery time.