ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Shohei Ohtani is still evaluating medical opinions on the tear in his ulnar collateral ligament, but his agent, Nez Balelo of CAA, made two things clear Monday afternoon: Ohtani will be ready to at least hit at the start of next season, regardless of how much longer he continues to play in 2023, and he will remain a two-way player down the road.
"There's not a question in his mind that he's gonna come back and he's gonna continue to do both," Balelo told a large contingent of reporters from his suite at Angel Stadium, marking the first time he or Ohtani have addressed the media since his tear was revealed Aug.