Angels Concerned with Ohtani’s Workload

Angels Concerned with Ohtani’s Workload

12 June, 2023

For the first time this year, two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani acknowledged that his increased effort on the mound has caused him to feel a little more tired than usual.

The Angels have made an effort to get the most out of Ohtani’s starts this season, rearranging their rotation as needed to ensure he pitches every sixth day. However, after Monday’s holiday, the team opted to give the right-hander extra rest for the first time this week after they noticed some fatigue in him during his start on June 2 against the Astros.

With an extra day of rest, Ohtani didn’t perform much better against the Mariners, pitching five innings and giving up three runs on three hits and five walks in a no-decision. After the game, Ohtani was questioned about whether he thought the new pitch timer or throwing more often this season had changed how he felt. Ohtani, who has a 3.32 ERA in 13 starts this season after recording a 2.33 ERA in 28 appearances last year, said he didn’t know. He said that increasing his pitching has been a role.

“I have been pitching more often compared to the last two years,” Ohtani said through interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. “There are times I feel a little more fatigued maybe because of that. But for the most part, I feel pretty good and healthy right now. The goal is to stay healthy until the end of the season.”

The good news for Ohtani is that by delaying his debut by a day, he will have more time to relax. He will now pitch in the middle of that week instead of the final game on July 8 before the All-Star break. That will allow him to have a longer period of rest between July 9 and July 13. There is, of course, a chance that Ohtani will throw a pitch in the July 11 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, but that would be more like a bullpen session.

When asked on Saturday about Ohtani’s tiredness this season, Angels manager Phil Nevin said he thought the current strategy will offer him a little break going into the second half. How the Halos will utilize their prized two-way player following the All-Star break is still up in the air. Ohtani will probably continue to pitch every sixth day, but they might possibly extend his turn if necessary.

Nevin responded, “We’ll map it out. “I believe he simply meant that the game had made him tired. Occasionally, that occurs. He became a little bit worn out by the number of pitches he had to throw to get some outs. I believe it was simply the game at hand and not necessarily where he is in the season.

Jarred Kelenic’s two-run homer in his most recent start caused Ohtani yet another setback; it was hit on a sweeper in the middle of the zone. Ohtani made the identical pitch twice in a row, which Kelenic benefited from.

Although Ohtani has given up seven home runs on it this season, that sweeper is still among the finest pitches in the game. It has been a little difficult for him to catch long balls in 2023. Compared to 14 in 28 starts last year, Ohtani has allowed 11 home runs in 13 starts this year. The walks themselves are problematic. After giving out 44 free passes in 166 innings in ’22, he has walked 34 batters in 76 innings this year.

Ohtani said, “Up until this moment. “Last year, when I was really good on the mound, I didn’t really feel like I do now,” she said.

With a 4.88 ERA over his last eight outings, Ohtani has struggled on the mound, but he has made up for it at the plate. In his most recent 11 games, the left-handed hitter has improved to a.400 hitting average with five home runs, four doubles, and 12 RBIs. On Sunday, he extended his hit streak to eight games.

He began the weekend on Friday with three hits, including a two-run home run and a double. On Saturday and Sunday, he added another two-run home run. Ohtani is on base.In 65 games this season, he hit 287.359/.359/.571 with 18 home runs, 12 doubles, three triples, nine stolen bases, and 46 RBIs. He shares third place in the Majors with Pete Alonso (22) and Aaron Judge (19) in terms of home runs. Ohtani is third among pitchers in the Majors with 102 strikeouts.

Nevin added, “He’s been amazing. He’s in the best situation I’ve ever seen him in. He is confined.