I don't want to be the bearer of bad news but the Los Angeles Angels' chances of playing baseball in October has been dealt a harsh blow.
Image from SB Nation
What was initially reported as a finger blister later devolved into a grade 2 UCL strain. Ohtani was given platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell injections, and will be reevaluated in three weeks time.
Now, it's not completely the end of the world, but let's be real -- a grade 2 UCL strain is just one step away from requiring Tommy John surgery. And that is extremely problematic for two reasons:
First, TJ surgery takes about a year to a year-and-a-half to fully recuperate. That means we may not see Ohtani (if he undergoes the procedure) until the playoffs of next season!
Second, MLB pitchers are rarely the same after surgery. Sure, around 80% of pitchers come back after the procedure, but merely coming back is not the goal -- you want your star players to perform.
All we can hope for now is that, by some miracle of God, Ohtani will respond well to the PRP and stem-cell injections. Surgery just isn't the answer, and should be avoided if at all possible.
For my part, I've sent a communication to the Angels organization detailing an alternative therapy of which its efficacy has been confirmed through the Japanese medical and pharmaceutical industry.