MLB fans are attributing the second UCL injury of Shohei Ohtani‘s career to the ‘Drake Curse’. During a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds, Ohtani managed to hit his 44th home run of the season in the first inning.
However, misfortune struck in the second inning when Ohtani, a prominent figure in Japanese baseball, had to exit the game due to injury.
Remarkably, Ohtani had been consistently present for the Angels‘ games since May 2. This latest injury setback is likely to deal a significant blow to the Angels‘ aspirations of making it to the MLB playoffs this season, particularly given Ohtani‘s upcoming free agency in the winter.
The Drake curse
Despite this injury setback, Ohtani did make an appearance in the second game of the doubleheader, securing a double and going 1 for 5.
Many are pointing fingers at the music artist Drake as the potential instigator of Ohtani‘s injury. This speculation was triggered when Drake was seen sporting an Ohtani All-Star jersey earlier in the month.
Curiously, after this appearance by Drake in Ohtani attire, a series of misfortunes followed for the Angels‘ star player, including a hand cramp, arm fatigue, and now, a second career UCL injury.
“Respectfully, I need Drake to stay away from the sports community, Ohtani is where we draw the line,” a user tweeted.
Drake has become infamous for his presence at events or encounters with athletes prior to their significant defeats.
Notable examples include the Toronto Raptors and Toronto Maple Leafs, as well as instances involving Conor McGregor and Anthony Joshua before their respective losses to Khabib Nurmagomedov and Andy Ruiz Jr.
However, Perry Minasian, the General Manager of the Angels, has dismissed the Drake Curse theory in Ohtani‘s recent injury struggles.
According to Minasian, Ohtani‘s difficulties in August were more related to his determination to not miss any games, rather than any influence from Drake. Minasian emphasized Ohtani‘s professionalism and dedication to the sport.
“A tough day for him. Tough day for all of us,” Minasian said. “If I was to bet on anybody bouncing back, he would be the guy. I believe he’ll be back and he’ll be able to do both again at a very high level.”
