Los Angeles Angels $30,000,000 superstar Shohei Ohtani starting to wear down after big workload: "I didn't really feel right the whole game"

Los Angeles Angels superstar Shohei Ohtani has put the team on his back in the absence of Mike Trout. Trout has been out of the lineup since July 6 after fracturing his left hamate bone.

In 2022, Ohtani signed a one-year contract worth $30,000,000 with the Angels, the largest-ever deal for a player still eligible for arbitration. The previous record belonged to Mookie Betts, who inked a $27 million deal in 2020 with the Boston Red Sox.

From pitching to designated hitting, Ohtani has been in the lineup trying to help the Angels find wins. But those wins have been hard to come by as the team sits fourth in the American League West with a record of 58-58.

The workload is starting to get to Ohtani, who has battled a cracked fingernail and multiple cramping issues over the last few weeks. His body is starting to wear down, and he can feel it.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Shohei Ohtani told reporters that he was not himself on the mound on Thursday. Despite the Los Angeles Angels securing a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants, he was frustrated with his performance.

"Throughout the whole game, I was just frustrated with the way I was pitching," Ohtani said. "I didn't really feel right the whole game."

Ohtani went six innings, giving up just one run on three hits and five strikeouts. He became the first pitcher in MLB history to secure 10 wins as a pitcher and hit 40 home runs in a single season.

"That's 16 straight games in 16 days. He's tired. He told me going into the sixth that the gas was running low, but he went out there and threw a clean inning," said manager Phil Nevin.

Shohei Ohtani knows how much he means in the lineup

Giants Angels Baseball

Shohei Ohtani will likely be the last person to ask for a day off. He knows his importance in the Angels' lineup, especially with Mike Trout on the IL.

The Angels are fighting to secure one of the American League Wild Card positions, but it will not be easy. The AL is highly competitive, and many teams are gunning for a spot. The Angels are 6.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays, who hold the final Wild Card position.

The next few weeks will be important for the Angels as they face tough opponents. They start a weekend series with the Houston Astros before taking on the Texas Rangers and then Tampa Bay Rays.