The Angels’ two-way star had known since Sept. 5 that the damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow was too severe to be healed by stem cell injections or plasma treatment.
If he took the recommendation of the team’s medical staff, Ohtani would have to give up pitching for the entirety of his second major league season. He’d be limited to hitting in 2019.
The situation was not ideal for a 24-year-old who had committed years ago to take a path few had traveled at baseball’s highest level. It took some time, but Ohtani eventually acquiesced.