Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani left Tuesday’s game against the San Diego Padres with a blister on his pitcher’s middle finger. He later said he likely won’t make it to next week’s All-Star Game because of the injury.
Right-hander Ohtani was pulled off the mound at Petco Park in the bottom of the sixth after being hit by three straight home runs by Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth, for the first time in Ohtani’s career. rice field. He recorded consecutive home runs. He left the field with his trainer as the Angels led the Padres to 5-1.
Ohtani has been plagued with cracked fingernails that have blisters, a problem that has delayed his planned start by a day. He never returned to the lineup as a designated hitter, and the Angels had Joe Adell pinch-hit when he returned to the lineup in the top of the ninth inning.
Ohtani was named a two-way All-Star for the third year in a row last weekend after being selected by the players to the American League pitching staff and voted as the designated hitter by fans. But it’s unclear if Ohtani will start next week’s All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park in Seattle because of the injury. While he’s still a potential starting DH, Ohtani said he doesn’t plan to pitch during the Midsummer Classic.
“It’s going to be pretty tough. For now, I’m not going to throw,” Ohtani said through an interpreter.
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It’s the latest blow for the Angels. Early in Tuesday’s game against the Padres, Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon was ejected in the top of the fourth with a bruise after hitting a ball to his shin. Mike Trout also fractured the hamate in his left hand while at bat, leaving him early in Monday’s 10-3 loss to the Padres. He was placed on the injured list on Tuesday and is expected to be out for six to eight weeks.
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“It was just that moment when I came home from the game, so I’ll be thinking about what’s next in the next few days,” Ohtani said. “As a pitcher, I have nine or ten days until my next start, so I hope I can recover in time.”
Angels manager Phil Nevin said he doesn’t think the blisters will affect Ohtani’s hitting ability much going forward.
Contributed by Associated Press