Shohei Ohtani injury update: Angels star nears return as DH, GM outlines plan

Kirstie Chiappelli

Shohei Ohtani injury update: Angels star nears return as DH, GM outlines plan image

Shohei Ohtani could be ready to make his return as early as this week.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler on Sunday said he's hopeful the right-hander will make his return as a designated hitter during the club's upcoming road trip to visit the Tigers, Orioles and Twins.

Ohtani, who is still recovering from Tommy John surgery he underwent in October, has played catch since having the procedure and also participated in another simulated game Sunday.

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While Eppler is optimistic Ohtani could play as early as Tuesday in Detroit, the club isn't ready to make an official announcement.

The team did say Monday that Ohtani will join the Angels in Detroit on Tuesday and be assessed in the afternoon. "We will have an update regarding his availability at that time," the team's PR department said.

Shohei Ohtani will join the team in Detroit tomorrow. He will be assessed tomorrow afternoon and we will have an update regarding his availability at that time.

— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 6, 2019

“We hope to be able to activate him on this trip, but he has to get through every step of the progression, so we’re not going to say anything until the progression is finished,” Eppler said, via MLB.com. “That’s just the mindful thing to do.”

When he is ready to play, Ohtani will sport a brace over his right elbow when he's running the bases, which he wore as he practiced sliding last week.

“He worked on some technique stuff to keep the arm a little bit out of the way,” Eppler said. “You have a lot of variability in plays in the game. There could be a throw to second base, there could be a relay home. You can’t predict how balls are going to come in, positions of fields, so on and so forth. We have talked to him about being mindful and we’ll be mindful.”

As a pitcher, Ohtani, 24, posted a 4-2 mark with a 3.31 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in his first MLB season last season. At the plate, he hit 22 home runs and slashed .285/.361/.564 en route to winning the AL Rookie of the Year Award.

Kirstie Chiappelli