ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – Los Angeles Angels player Shohei Ohtani underwent successful surgery on his left knee on Friday, a procedure that will keep him out for the remainder of the season, manager Brad Ausmus said.
Ohtani, who is in his second year in the majors, had the surgery to address bipartite patella, a rare congenital condition in which the bones of his kneecap are unfused. The Angels announced Thursday that a player undergoing the procedure requires between eight to 12 weeks for a full recovery.
While the 25-year-old will also need to pause the rehab he has been undergoing after his Tommy John elbow surgery last Ocober, Ausmus said the knee procedure will allow him to prepare for next season, when he hopes to return as both a pitcher and a hitter.
The Angels expect Ohtani to resume throwing in the bullpen about 10 weeks after the surgery with hopes of completing his rehab program by the end of the year.
This season, Ohtani played exclusively as a designated hitter. He batted .286 with 62 RBIs and 18 home runs in 106 games.
Source : Baseball – The Japan Times