Angels Plan To Keep Ohtani Away From The Mound

Los Angeles Angles superstar and MVP candidate Shohei Ohtani will not pitch again this season, according to his manager. Ohtani felt some soreness in his right arm during a throwing session two weeks ago, but managed to finish the season with two strong outings. Since the Angels won’t be playing in the postseason, Ohtani will finish out the season as a designated hitter.

"Just talking with him, he just felt as though it’s the right time to shut it down right now," Angels manager Joe Maddon said. "He finished with two really strong outings, and there’s really nothing to gain right now. It’s probably the best thing to have him not pitch. But again, this was a conversation with him."

Ohtani finishes the season with an incredible 9-2 record across 23 starts (on a losing team, no less), to go along with his 45 home runs and 98 RBIs.

Few, if any, players have ever matched Ohtani’s versatility as both a pitcher and power hitter; certainly no players in the modern era have ever come close. And at just 27-years-old, the Japanese-born superstar is presumably entering the prime of his career, so obviously the organization will want to protect his health at all costs.

The Angels face the Texas Rangers today, and then conclude the 2021 season in Seattle for a three-game set against the Mariners. The MLB playoffs are scheduled to begin next Tuesday, October 5, with the Wild Card play-in round.