Angels’ Ohtani expects to play Monday, day after early exit
May 1, 2022, 4:49 AM | Updated: 4:51 pm
Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout, right, celebrates with Shohei Ohtani, of Japan, after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox in Chicago, Sunday, May 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
CHICAGO (AP) — Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani said he expects to play Monday, a day after making an early exit because of tightness in his right groin.
The two-way AL MVP was the Angels’ designated hitter when he was pulled for a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 6-5 win over the Chicago White Sox.
“I was taken out for safety reasons. I was perfectly OK with it,” Ohtani said through a translator.
Ohtani said he expects to be in the lineup for the series finale against the White Sox.
Ohtani was 0 for 3 with an RBI in the win.
Angels manager Joe Maddon said Ohtani might have tweaked his groin running to first in the seventh inning on a grounder back to pitcher Jose Ruiz that the White Sox turned into a double play.
Ohtani is batting .228 with four home runs, 12 RBIs and four stolen bases this season.
As a pitcher, he’s 2-2 with a 4.19 ERA, striking out 30 in 19 1/3 innings. He won his second straight start in his last outing, beating Cleveland on Wednesday.
Overall, Ohtani has played 22 of the Angels’ 23 games this season.
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