Angels pitcher/outfielder Shohei Ohtani has a damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, according to a physical obtained by Yahoo Sports. The UCL is the ligament that requires Tommy John surgery to repair, a procedure that often keeps pitchers out of baseball for more than a year.
Yahoo is reporting that a report conducted by a Japanese doctor on Nov. 28 in Tokyo shows that Ohtani has a first-degree sprain of the UCL in his right elbow.
A two-way star who dominated the Japanese league, Ohtani signed with the Angels last week after he was pursued by multiple Major League teams.