The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s Shohei Ohtani, 29, is facing a lengthy absence.

Ohtani did not play in the Angels’ game against the Seattle Mariners on Thursday (July 14) at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington, USA.

According to MLB.com, Angels manager Phil Nevin said before the game, “I had a conversation with Ohtani inside. It’s just not the right day (to play),” he said before the game, confirming Ohtani’s absence.

Without Ohtani, the Angels suffered a 2-3 upset loss to Seattle.

Ohtani’s most recent appearance was on April 4 against the Oakland Athletics.

He’s now on the 10-game disabled list after feeling a soreness in his side while taking batting practice against the Baltimore Orioles on May 5.

Optimistic that it wasn’t a major injury, the team kept Ohtani off the disabled list (IL) and monitored his condition on a day-to-day basis, but his return hasn’t come as easily as expected.

On April 12 against Seattle, the team included Ohtani in the starting lineup as the No. 2 designated hitter, only to remove him from the lineup before the game.

Ohtani, an American League Most Valuable Player (AL) candidate, has been plagued by season-ending injuries. His trademark two-hitter was shut down last month.먹튀검증

He was diagnosed with ligament damage in his right elbow, which will keep him from pitching for the rest of the season. He vowed to play every day as a designated hitter instead, but a side injury has kept him out longer.