Source: Ohtani to keep hitting despite UCL tear

Shohei Ohtani is expected to be with the Los Angeles Angels for the start of their upcoming road trip and is planning to continue to hit in their lineup, at least in the interim, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

The Angels are off on Thursday, then begin a three-city trip through New York, Philadelphia and Oakland.

Ohtani exited his start against the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader after just 26 pitches, then underwent an MRI that revealed he had a tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, Angels general manager Perry Minasian told reporters later that night. But Ohtani still opted to serve as the team's designated hitter in Game 2 -- and it appears he'll continue to do so at least through an upcoming weekend series against the New York Mets.

Ohtani, 29, has done this before. He remained in the Angels' lineup while undergoing platelet-rich plasma treatment and stem-cell therapy to treat a Grade 2 sprain of his UCL in the summer of 2018, then continued to hit even after learning he needed Tommy John surgery in the early part of September that year, pushing the procedure back until the end of the regular season.

The calculus now, though, might be a little different.

Barring a last-minute extension, Ohtani will be a free agent this offseason. And prior to the revelation of a second UCL tear, the widely held belief throughout the industry was that he would secure a contract of at least $500 million. He might still do so. But Tommy John surgery -- which is exceedingly more difficult to recover from the second time around -- would keep him off the mound for the entirety of the 2024 season. And further delaying the procedure could impact his availability as a hitter for Opening Day of next year.

Ohtani, who had his initial Tommy John surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, is still seeking secondary opinions and there has been no word as to when the next course of action with his arm might be decided upon.