Angels’ Shohei Ohtani has elbow tear, won’t pitch again this season

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani has a tear in an elbow ligament and will not pitch for the rest of the season, general manager Perry Minasian said.

Minasian made the announcement after the Angels’ 7-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds in the second game of a doubleheader Wednesday night. Ohtani played DH in the nightcap, going 1-for-5 with a double and run scored.

In the first game earlier Wednesday, Ohtani left the mound in the middle of an at-bat during the second inning because of arm fatigue.

Ohtani had a 2-2 count on Reds third baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand when the Angels’ training staff came out to check on him following a 94 mph fastball. Ohtani headed off the mound after a brief discussion, having thrown just 26 pitches in the first game of a doubleheader, which the Angels would go on to lose 9-4.

Ohtani didn’t speak to the media after the first game because he was getting further evaluation, but manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani told him that his pitching arm “just didn’t feel right.”

“He told me he didn’t feel any pain,” Nevin said. “It was just more of the same thing he’s been feeling for the last couple of weeks.”

Ohtani hit his major-league-leading 44th homer in the first inning of the opening game, a two-run shot. He also left that game as the Angels’ designated hitter, with rookie Nolan Schanuel replacing him.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.