Doctor shares bold suggestion for Angels' Shohei Ohtani about 2024

At least one expert believes Shohei Ohtani should consider skipping the 2024 MLB season if the Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar wants to make a full return to starting pitching following his latest physical setback. 

"If you said, 'What is the best way to make him a pitcher?' It would be to avoid disruption of his progression and throwing (in his rehab)," New York Yankees head physician Dr. Chris Ahmad, who has experience performing Tommy John surgeries, told Evan Drellich of The Athletic. 

Ohtani first underwent successful Tommy John surgery in the fall of 2018 but ultimately returned to become a (likely) two-time American League Most Valuable Player by Thanksgiving Day 2023. While the 29-year-old who was diagnosed with an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his right elbow earlier this week plans to serve as a designated hitter through the rest of this season, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Chris Geary told Drellich there's "no way (Ohtani) pitches in 2024" assuming he goes under the knife again this fall. 

Ohtani's situation is complicated by the fact he remains set to reach free agency after the ongoing campaign. It's thought his latest injury could cost him a minimum of $100M total regardless of whether or not he attempts to play as a non-pitcher next year. 

Dr. Ahmad warned that Ohtani needs to think long-term before he makes any final decision about 2024. 

"...In a revision second-time Tommy John, you want the rehab to go perfectly," Ahmad explained. "And the rehab, by design, that throwing progression, it’s designed to have very strategic incremental building loads on the ligament, so that it gets stronger and stronger during that lengthy rehab time. For a second-time surgery — especially for a hard thrower who is effective, who has a lot of career left — you would like to see that rehab process go through smoothly with a dedication to the progression." 

Some have already suggested that Ohtani could shift to a closer role either with the Angels or a different team beginning in 2025. As Drellich pointed out, any such talk is mere speculation considering the generational talent typically "says very little of interest publicly" about himself or his career. 

Ahmad also mentioned that it's unclear if Ohtani could treat the injury using platelet-rich plasma injections because outsiders don't yet know the exact nature of his injury. 

"Every option should be discussed, because it’s unique," Ahmad added about Ohtani. "And then after you discuss it, that’s where decisions become more clear. Maybe it just doesn’t make sense for him to (hit in 2024), because of his desire to be a pitcher, and he still has lots of baseball ahead of him." 

It's a safe bet that individuals within the Angels and other clubs are having similar discussions about baseball's unicorn as September approaches.