A damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow did nothing to slow Shohei Ohtani in the batter’s box this week. The Angels’ erstwhile two-way star slugged three homers in two games after sustaining an injury Sunday that will probably require surgery.
The Angels should expect significant, if not similar, plate production from Ohtani next season, even as the 24-year-old right-hander recovers from the ligament replacement procedure that, assuming he has it, will prevent him from pitching until 2020.
“I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be able to hit next season,” said Dr. Luga Podesta, 62, a sports medicine and rehabilitation specialist from Naples, Fla.