Angels Injury Report: Will Shohei Ohtani Make His Next Scheduled Start Despite Groin Injury?

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Shohei Ohtani Injury Update

Angels' dual-threat superstar Shohei Ohtani was pulled from Sunday's game after suffering an apparent right groin injury running out a ground ball earlier in the contest.

He appeared in one pinch hit appearance during the day game Monday, grounding out to second base and jogging lightly to first.

The team noted the injury as right groin tightness, although it may more than just tightness, according to our Pro Baseball Docs. 

Tightness is a general term that is meant to describe an accumulation ailment whereas Ohtani's injury likely popped up on an individual play when he was running out of the box. 

The right groin strain would make pitching difficult for the right-hander, according to the Pro Baseball Docs – which includes Dr. John Conway, former head physician for the Rangers.

If Ohtani was solely a pitcher, he would more than likely head to the 10-day IL to rest his strain. His next start falls on Wednesday or Thursday this week.

With bad weather in the forecast for Boston on Wednesday, his next start will likely fall to Thursday. Manager Joe Maddon said he's hopeful that Ohtani can make his next scheduled start, but a decision has not yet been made.

The Pro Baseball Docs expect the Angels to be cautious with Ohtani and skip or push back his next start.

As a left-handed batter and DH on his non-pitching days, Ohtani could play through the injury but would risk aggravation or a more severe strain running the bases.

The 2021 MVP is not scheduled to undergo an MRI on the injury.

Ohtani is batting .226 with four home runs and 12 RBIs. He has 30 strikeouts in 19.1 IP across four starts and a 4.19 ERA.