OC Register: Angels’ Shohei Ohtani won’t pitch again this season

[AngelsWin.com]

ARLINGTON, Texas — Shohei Ohtani’s season as a pitcher is over.

Manager Joe Maddon announced on Wednesday that the two-way star will not pitch in the season finale in Seattle on Sunday because Ohtani and the Angels decided there was nothing left to gain by pitching another game.

Ohtani will continue to hit throughout the final week of the season, Maddon said.

“There’s really nothing left to prove on the mound,” Maddon said. “I think he’s exceeded expectations on the mound this year. Anybody that would have thought he would go 130 innings and put up those kind of numbers, strikeouts, the walks, ERA, everything that he’s done. I think that’s sufficient.”

Ohtani started 23 games and pitched 130-1/3 innings, which is more than he pitched in the previous four years combined, including his final season in Japan.

He was 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA. He struck out 156 and walked 44, which was a dramatic turnaround around after he’d walked 19 in his first four games.

Ohtani finished the season with two of his best outings, pitching 15 innings against the Oakland A’s and Seattle Mariners while allowing just three runs. He struck out 20 and walked three.

Both of those games came after Maddon had suggested that Ohtani’s season on the mound might have been done after his Sept. 10 start when he gave up six runs in Houston.

That game followed Ohtani’s career-high 117 pitches, and Ohtani mentioned some stiffness in the subsequent week, so the Angels had him step back. It turned out Ohtani needed just two more days of rest before taking the mound.

Then he delivered two more games that were as good as any he’d pitched.

“What he’s done has never been done before,” Maddon said. “We’ve talked about that a thousand times. And then to finish as strongly as he did, at 130 innings. … This could not have worked out any better. I think 130 is a really nice number going into next year.”

Maddon was clear that Ohtani does want to continue hitting because he still has some goals offensively. His 45 home runs are two shy of Sal Perez for the major league lead. He also could make a run at Troy Glaus’ franchise record of 47 homers.

Ohtani obviously can still add to his MVP resume at the plate. His .962 OPS is second in the American League. He also has 98 RBIs.

“The hitting side of things, there’s still some things to chase right now which we’re all into,” Maddon said. “We’re hoping that he accomplishes those things. But it was right just to put the pitching down right now.”

That decision was certainly met with approval in Seattle, where the Mariners are involved in a fight for the final AL wild-card berth. Going into play on Wednesday, the Mariners were a half-game behind the Boston Red Sox for the second wild-card spot.

The Angels are unsure who will pitch this weekend in Seattle now. José Suarez will presumably start one of the games. Reid Detmers could also start another, but he’d likely only be able to go a few innings after missing so much time on the COVID-related injured list.

WARD IS BACK

Taylor Ward was activated and got the start in center field on Wednesday night.

Ward had been optioned to Triple-A on July 22 and on July 30 he was placed on the injured list with a non-displaced left rib fracture.

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Nearly two months later, Ward worked his way all the way back to get a brief opportunity in the big leagues again. Before he was sent down, he was having his most success in the big leagues, with a career-best .748 OPS and a career-high eight homers.

“He’s such a respectful young man and I know he wants to get out there and show us where he’s at right now,” Maddon said. “And I think it’s the right thing to do.”

The Angels optioned left-hander Packy Naughton to create a spot for Ward. Naughton started on Tuesday night.

UP NEXT

Angels (RHP Alex Cobb, 8-3, 3.46 ERA) at Rangers (RHP Glenn Otto, 0-3, 8.02), Thursday, 11:05 a.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM

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