Angels expect Shohei Ohtani to return as hitter this season

It remains a question whether Shohei Ohtani will be healthy enough to pitch again in 2018, but there appears to be growing optimism that they’ll be able to get him back in the lineup as a hitter.

Los Angeles Angels GM Billy Eppler told Jim Duquette of MLB Network Radio that, as Ohtani receives PRP injections to try to help his elbow, he’s likely to return as a hitter no matter what. In addition, the belief is Ohtani would have been cleared to return sooner if they were only concerned with his ability to serve as designated hitter.

Eppler also told us that Ohtani is likely to return as a hitter no matter what the outcome of the PRP injection, “but took this course obviously because we’d like him to pitch for us “ this year. Ohtani would’ve been cleared sooner if only a DH

— Jim Duquette (@Jim_Duquette) June 27, 2018

The Angels continue to share their public optimism over Ohtani’s recovery. It appears that he’s on schedule, and we’ll see how it goes in a week or two.