Report: Shohei Ohtani Won't Be Ready for Opening Day After Tommy John Surgery

Los Angeles Angels two-way star Shohei Ohtani won't be ready for Opening Day as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler said he has been cleared for "full strengthening" rehab, although his next step is to take dry swings.

Ohtani underwent the surgery Oct. 1 following his successful rookie season.

Bollinger explained why Ohtani's recovery is different than usual:

The Japanese star was named the American League Rookie of the Year this season after playing well both as a hitter and pitcher in 2018.

He hit 22 home runs in 104 games as a hitter, posting a .285 batting average and .925 on-base percentage. As a pitcher, he made 10 starts and finished 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 51.2 innings.

The Tommy John surgery will prevent him from returning to the mound until 2020, but he will at least be able to contribute as a hitter during the 2019 season.

Considering his 2.7 WAR at the plate last season ranked fourth among Angels hitters, per Baseball Reference, it's clear he can still make an impact even without his pitching.

Los Angeles will hope he can recover from his surgery and get on the field as soon as possible.