OC Register: Angels and Shohei Ohtani benefit from this new MLB rule

[AngelsWin.com]

A new rule would allow the Angels some unprecedented flexibility in how they bring two-way player Shohei Ohtani back from Tommy John surgery.

General manager Billy Eppler said Friday that teams now have the option of having a two-way player pitch in the minors, for purposes of rehabbing an injury, without going on the injured list.

That means Ohtani could continue to hit for the Angels in between outings in the minors.

Because Ohtani would not be on the injured list, he would remain a part of the Angels’ 26-man active roster while he’s gone, so they’d essentially be playing one man short in those games.

The Angels have said they plan to manage Ohtani’s innings this season, because he hasn’t pitched a full season since 2016 in Japan. They have not said exactly how they’ll do that, and they probably won’t detail the plan until the start of spring training.

One option on the table, however, would be for Ohtani to simply start his season as a pitcher late. If the Angels don’t want him to pitch in games until, say, May 1, they could essentially have him make his “spring training starts” in the minors in April, without losing his bat during that time.

If the Angels did that, they would probably only need to send Ohtani out for his last two or three starts, when he would need to get his pitch-limit up to a point that couldn’t be reached simply with a simulated game with the major-league team.

It’s still uncertain if that’s the approach the Angels will take. They could also prepare Ohtani for opening day, but have him skip starts throughout the season to manage his innings.

Ohtani had been scheduled to finish his pitching rehab in October, but that work was put on hold when he had September knee surgery, so Ohtani actually finished in December. Since then, he’s been throwing lightly, just to keep his arm in shape, Eppler said.

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[ScottM]

This is actually going to help a ton. Let him just prolong the rehab and have his "Spring Training" starts in May in Salt Lake. 

[Bronson]

Wow, that’s awesome. 

[Slegnaac]

Quake tickets could be valuable!

 

Edit: but not as valuable as 66ers!

Edited January 18, 2020 by Slegnaac
Hofstra

[Lou]

Just now, Slegnaac said:

Quake tickets could be valuable!

Ummm....

[T.G.]

1 minute ago, Slegnaac said:

Quake tickets could be valuable!

I'll sell you some right now, but it has to be NOW.

[Slegnaac]

18 minutes ago, True Grich said:

I'll sell you some right now, but it has to be NOW.

Never allow yourself to be pressured by a sale person.

[T.G.]

1 minute ago, Slegnaac said:

Never allow yourself to be pressured by a chris sale

 

[T.G.]

@Slegnaac when did Ohtani get traded to the Dodgers?

[Slegnaac]

Rats, 66ers tickets

[Lou]

5 minutes ago, Slegnaac said:

Rats, 66ers tickets

[Ace-Of-Diamonds]

6 hours ago, ScottSted said:

This is actually going to help a ton. Let him just prolong the rehab and have his "Spring Training" starts in May in Salt Lake. 

He could rehab for the 66ers instead, so there wouldn't be so much traveling.

[Fish Oil]

I'm amazed that MLB is this forward thinking.

 

[AngelsLakersFan]

Now if they'd just let us play by NL rules when he is on the mound that'd be perfect.

[ScottT]

This is great. 

They mentioned he could hit the next day after a minor league rehab start.  What if the 66ers play one of those wacky 11am games?  Could he throw a couple innings and be available to hit for the Angels later that day?  

I doubt it.  Sounds like it's based on days like all IL stints, rehab limits.  

Even if it's possible, I don't see the Angels doing it, but kinda wild to think about.  

[Jeff Fletcher]

1 hour ago, ScottT said:

This is great. 

They mentioned he could hit the next day after a minor league rehab start.  What if the 66ers play one of those wacky 11am games?  Could he throw a couple innings and be available to hit for the Angels later that day?  

I doubt it.  Sounds like it's based on days like all IL stints, rehab limits.  

Even if it's possible, I don't see the Angels doing it, but kinda wild to think about.  

He’s not going to go to a minor league game unless he needs to throw at least 60 pitches, I suspect. If that’s the case, the Angels wouldn’t want him to hit even if he was allowed. 

[Slegnaac]

3 hours ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

Now if they'd just let us play by NL rules when he is on the mound that'd be perfect.

All AL teams have the option to bat the pitcher.

[AngelsLakersFan]

48 minutes ago, Slegnaac said:

All AL teams have the option to bat the pitcher.

Doesn't help much when the other team still gets to use the DH.

[Slegnaac]

39 minutes ago, AngelsLakersFan said:

Doesn't help much when the other team still gets to use the DH.

So you want the game played by NL rules when he pitches, and AL rules when he doesn't?

[Chuck]

8 hours ago, Jeff Fletcher said:

He’s not going to go to a minor league game unless he needs to throw at least 60 pitches, I suspect. If that’s the case, the Angels wouldn’t want him to hit even if he was allowed. 

Why? 

NL pitchers hit in games they pitch all season long.

[tdawg87]

Yeah that's dumb.

[Lou]

4 hours ago, Chuckster70 said:

Why? 

NL pitchers hit in games they pitch all season long.

But then they get 4 days off. 

[tdawg87]

7 minutes ago, Lou said:

But then they get 4 days off. 

And Ohtani will get 5.

[tdawg87]

Face!

[Lou]

8 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

And Ohtani will get 5.

Not from batting.