NEW YORK -- Shohei Ohtani's right elbow was fine until he tore his ulnar collateral ligament with a 94 mph fastball to Cincinnati's Christian Encarnacion-Strand on Wednesday, according to Los Angeles Angels manager Phil Nevin.
Baseball's two-way superstar was back in the Angels' lineup as a designated hitter Friday night against the New York Mets, two days after the injury ended his season as a pitcher and clouded his future months before potentially becoming a free agent.
He received huge cheers from the crowd on Japanese Heritage Night when he walked to the plate in the first inning and tipped his helmet twice in response.