GM Perry Minasian defends Angels after criticism about Shohei Ohtani's injury
Los Angeles Angels designated hitter Shohei Ohtani follows through on his double against the New York Mets during the first inning of an MLB baseball game at Citi Field on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
During an impassioned pregame news conference, Angels general manager Perry Minasian was unequivocal:
The Angels were not irresponsible with the health of Shohei Ohtani.
In fact, he said the team had offered the two-way superstar imaging in the “beginning of August, late July,” but Ohtani and his representation declined because the injury was a finger cramp.
“They didn’t believe it warranted imaging,” Minasian said during a 10-minute question-and-answer session before the Mets’ 5-3 loss to the Angels on Saturday night at Citi Field.
Minasian and the Angels have received criticism for perceived mishandling of Ohtani after it was revealed late Wednesday night that he suffered a UCL tear in his right elbow and will not pitch again this season.
Before Friday’s series opener, Minasian said the team did not have Ohtani undergo imaging. Sitting in the visitors’ dugout about two hours before the first pitch, he attempted to explain the organization’s decision-making as it pertains to when players receive imaging.
“Depends on the injury and what area of the body and all those types of things,” Minasian said. “Happens a lot. Every time somebody feels something, you don’t necessarily run them to an MRI tube. It depends on the injury.”
He used Mike Trout as an example of a time when the Angels had a player receive imaging. After suffering a hamate fracture in his left hand, Trout had surgery on July 5 and missed 38 games. He came off the injured list on Tuesday and went 1-for-4 in the Angels’ 4-3 loss to the Reds.
The next day, he was put back on the IL because of pain in the hand.
“The day before Mike played, we said, ‘Hey, peace of mind, you’re going to play tomorrow. You want to image the hand and wrist [to] make sure everything’s OK?’ ” Minasian said. “Yes, let’s do that. We did it and it looked good. And he went and played and didn’t feel great. So it happens over the course of the year. We don’t image everything with every player. It’s a long season.”
Ohtani will play until he receives a second opinion. It is not known when he will meet with medical professionals.
Ohtani had an RBI triple, a double, three walks and two stolen bases Saturday night. He was intentionally walked with two outs and a runner on second in the top of the ninth, which drew boos.
In Friday’s 3-1 win, he was 1-for-2 with a double and three walks.
“What he says — especially him; he knows himself as well as anybody — when he says I’m ready to go, there’s nobody I believe more,” Minasian said. “Put it that way.”
Entering Saturday, Ohtani led MLB with 44 home runs. His .305 batting average was fourth in the American League and he was third in the AL with 91 RBIs. Ohtani was 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA in 132 innings this season before leaving after 1 1⁄3 innings Wednesday.
This is the second time Ohtani has torn the UCL. He suffered the injury in 2018, but Minasian stressed that the new tear is in a different spot, which caused the symptoms to be different. When asked what grade the tear is, Minasian declined to comment.
