Shohei Ohtani’s locker has been packed up at Angel Stadium, and the Angels decline to say why

MLB

Though Ohtani was on the stadium earlier than the sport, the soon-to-be free agent’s locker was largely empty afterward as he missed his eleventh consecutive recreation.

Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani sits within the dugout earlier than a baseball recreation in opposition to the Oakland Athletics in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (AP Photograph/Jeff Chiu) AP

By GREG BEACHAM, Related Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani’s locker has been largely cleared out at Angel Stadium, and the Los Angeles Angels declined to say why Friday evening.

The 2-way famous person missed his eleventh consecutive recreation with an indirect muscle harm Friday evening when the Angels misplaced 11-2 to Detroit. Though Ohtani was on the stadium earlier than the sport, the soon-to-be free agent’s locker was largely empty afterward.

Practically the entire private gadgets had been faraway from his locker and the adjoining empty stall. A totally packed bag with a brand from the 2023 All-Star Sport sat in entrance of his stall the place his sneakers would usually be, and only some exercise shirts held on the rack.

Practically a half-hour after reporters had been allowed into the locker room and observed the absence of Ohtani’s possessions, an Angels spokesman mentioned the group will give extra details about the event Saturday.

Ohtani shall be a free agent this winter after six seasons with the Angels, and his future has been a relentless supply of hypothesis this season, solely rising after the Angels plummeted out of the playoff race in August. Ohtani has been mum about his future, and his current accidents have additional altered the dialogue about his long-term plans.

He has already been shut down as a pitcher this season because of a tear in his proper elbow ligament, however the Angels had held out hope he may to return as a hitter this month after straining his obliques in batting apply final week.

Ohtani continues to be the frontrunner for his second AL MVP award in three years, however Texas’ Corey Seager may very well be gaining in voters’ minds. Ohtani, who went 10-5 with a 3.14 ERA this season, leads the American League with 44 homers, and his 1.066 OPS is the second-best within the majors, now trailing Seager.