Shohei Ohtani’s locker looked notably empty after the Angels faced a disappointing 11-2 home loss to the Detroit Tigers. As has been reported by several sources, the star of the Angels of Los Angeles has removed all of his belongings from his locker in the team clubhouse. The Orange County Register’s Jeff Fletcher reported on this development, but the Angels have not provided any information on the matter until tomorrow.
Shohei Ohtani’s locker has been cleared out. There’s a bag that’s packed.
The Angels have declined to say tonight why this is happening or what it means.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) September 16, 2023
Ohtani hasn’t been able to play since September 3 because of an oblique injury. On top of that, he’s also dealing with a torn UCL in his elbow. His agent, Nez Balelo, mentioned that he will need a procedure for his elbow at some point.
After missing 11 games consecutively due to his oblique injury, the most recent game Ohtani sat out of was against the Detroit Tigers, where the Angels suffered an 11-2 loss.
Shohei Ohtani has cleared out his locker in the Angels clubhouse, per @JeffFletcherOCR
The Angels say they will not have information on the situation until tomorrow pic.twitter.com/kOaTDNyOeU
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) September 16, 2023
Despite this, Angels manager Phil Nevin consistently referred to Ohtani as day-to-day and expressed a desire for his return this season. However, the clearing of Ohtani’s locker at Angel Stadium now suggests the end of his tenure with the Angels.
Almost all of Ohtani’s personal items have been cleared out from his locker, and only a few workout shirts remain hanging on the rack. A bag with the 2023 All-Star Game logo was placed in front of his stall.
This winter, Ohtani will become a free agent after six seasons with the Angels. Speculation about his future has been ongoing this season, especially after the Angels’ playoff hopes faded in August. Ohtani has remained tight-lipped about his plans, and recent injuries have further complicated discussions about his long-term prospects.
BREAKING: Shohei Ohtani has been spotted at an airport in Japan after clearing out his locker in the Angels locker room. pic.twitter.com/em5OIKsidq
— J (@HoursAndYears) September 16, 2023
While still a frontrunner for his second AL MVP award in three years, Corey Seager from Texas has started to gain ground in the minds of voters. Ohtani, who posted a 10-5 record with a 3.14 ERA this season, leads the American League with 44 home runs, but his 1.066 OPS now trails Seager’s, making the MVP race more competitive.
