Shohei Ohtani was scratched from the Los Angeles Angels' starting lineup for Monday's game against the Baltimore Orioles because of right oblique tightness, the club said.
The two-way star cut short a rare session of on-field batting practice at Angel Stadium after he hit a ball over the fence and then on the next pitch winced when he checked a swing at a low ball.
The club's announcement came an hour before the game started. Ohtani was set to bat second.
Ohtani has been limited to designated hitter duties after being diagnosed with a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on Aug. 23.
Also on Monday, Ohtani's agent, Nez Balelo, told reporters that his client will need some sort of procedure to heal the ligament tear but that it might not necessarily be a second Tommy John surgery.
Ohtani had the operation in 2018 and did not pitch in 2019. Balelo explained that this tear is in a different place compared to his previous UCL injury.
"I do know this: No matter what timetable we're dealing with and when we get this done, Shohei is going to be in somebody's lineup next year DHing when the bell rings," Balelo said.
"Longevity is important, because he loves to pitch," Balelo added. "There's not a question in his mind that he's going to come back and he's going to continue to do both, like we have the last few years."