The latest drama over Shohei Ohtani’s pitching elbow has, according to Teruyo, who is tuned into the social media Ohtani-sphere, caused a wave of recrimination against the Angels for failing to take the precautions needed to prevent his latest ulnar collateral ligament tear.
Because we know precious little about exactly how elbows heal or are damaged beyond self-repair, or what the Angels and Ohtani did to prevent it, or the actual dangers from two-way play, Ohtani’s injury has unleashed a torrent of comments from people talking out their asses.
When the Nippon Ham Fighters signed Nippon Sport Science University two-way player Kota Yazawa, their top draft choice last autumn, expectations were high that the team, armed with the experience of Shohei Ohtani’s development into a two-way star, would have a viable roadmap for the youngster’s first pro season. If they did, it didn’t work.
Yazawa, who is shorter, smaller and four years older than Ohtani was in his first year out of high school, found himself practicing to excess and losing muscle mass.
