Shohei Ohtani exits start with blister in latest Angels injury

MLB

From Christian Arnold

July 4, 2023 | 10:41 p.m

The Los Angeles Angels are doing badly.

Just hours after the team announced Mike Trout’s injury, two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani ended Tuesday’s start with a blister on his right middle finger.

Ohtani, 29, came out with a coach in the sixth inning after allowing San Diego Padres batters Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth to hit back-to-back home runs — the first time in his career.

The Angels originally announced he was being phased out as a pitcher, meaning he could still be the designated hitter.

However, Ohtani didn’t return to bat for the rest of the game as Jo Adell scored a pinch hit for him in the next batting.

After the competition on Tuesday Ohtani told reporters that he would see over the next three days if he could hit before the All-Star break, but added that he doesn’t expect to pitch in the All-Star game.

Ohtani was selected for his third straight Midsummer Classic on Sunday.

The right-hander added he hopes to improve in time to allow for his next Angels start, which would come in around nine or 10 days.

Ohtani struggled with a broken fingernail on the same finger in his last start.

He had left that game as well, but was able to stay in the game as a batsman.

The Angels were 5-1 down when the two-way star left Tuesday’s game, ultimately losing 5-8.

It was an all-around bad day for the Angels, who announced Trout would be out for several weeks with a broken left wrist.

The news came a day after Trout, 31, was selected for his 11th career MLB All-Star game.

In Los Angeles, third baseman Anthony Rendon was also out of the game Tuesday after fouling a pitch with his left knee and having to be helped off the field.

After the game, the Angels announced that the infielder had a contusion on his left shin and that the x-rays were negative.

Since the eighth inning of Monday’s game, the Angels have walked out of 44 percent of their 40-man payroll games with injuries. according to ESPN Stats & Info.

The Angels now hold a 45-43 record and are four games behind an American League wildcard berth.