Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani on his future

Los Angeles Angels star Shohei Ohtani addressed questions on his future in Anaheim following a 2-Zero loss to the Texas Rangers on Thursday night time that dropped his workforce 15 video games under .500.

Requested if he nonetheless needs to be with the Angels after the commerce deadline subsequent week, Ohtani, final yr’s AL MVP, equivocated a bit in translator Ippei Mizuhara’s relay of his reply.

“No matter the place I am taking part in, I’ll give it my all and attempt to win that ballgame in entrance of me,” Ohtani stated. “I am with the Angels proper now, and I am very grateful for what they’ve achieved. I like my workforce and my teammates. Proper now I am an Angel, and that is all I can deal with.”

Ohtani, who turned 28 earlier this month, is ready to change into a free agent after the 2023 season. He has spent all 5 of his MLB seasons with the Angels, ending under .500 and lacking the playoffs every year.

On Thursday night time, Ohtani (9-6) repeatedly pitched out of bother whereas racking up 11 strikeouts, his sixth consecutive begin with double-digit strikeouts, however he additionally yielded eight hits and two runs over six innings. He misplaced his second straight begin whereas pitching with an opportunity for his career-best 10th mound victory.

Ohtani leads the majors with 9 double-digit strikeout performances. He pitched six scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts in Atlanta final week earlier than the Braves tagged him for six runs within the seventh in an 8-1 loss.

Thursday’s loss dropped the Angels 22.5 video games behind the first-place Houston Astros within the AL West.

The Related Press contributed to this report.