For the second time this season, Angels rookie right-hander Shohei Ohtani left a mound start early because of a blister on his pitching hand.
Ohtani was removed from Wednesday night's game vs. the Royals at Angel Stadium after he warmed up in the top of the fifth inning. Before leaving, he repeatedly looked at the hand as he and his translator spoke with Angels manager Mike Scioscia and a team trainer.
He appeared to be upset as he walked to the dugout and into the clubhouse.
"He was a little frustrated. Anybody who competes wants to go out there and compete," Angels catcher Martin Maldonado said.
The Angels announced the injury later in the game. The blister is on Ohtani's right middle finger.
"I didn't ask him what pitch it was or where it was in the game — somewhere in the third or fourth (inning), I would imagine," Scioscia said. "But the bottom line was that he started to feel it and it was time to get him out."
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Ohtani did not speak with reporters afterward.
Ohtani was also forced from the mound because of a blister on April 17 after pitching two innings vs. the Red Sox. He was able to make his next scheduled start on April 24. Scioscia said this blister "didn't look as bad" as the first one.
Ohtani allowed one run on four hits, walked three and struck out four Wednesday in his ninth career major league start. He hadn't pitched since May 30.
"He was fine all game (before the blister developed). He was throwing the ball good. He was doing what he was normally doing. He was throwing strikes and throwing any pitch in any count," Maldonado said.
SN contributor Joseph D'Hippolito provided additional reporting from Angel Stadium.
