The Angels have announced the activation of Shohei Ohtani from the 10-day DL. He stayed on the shelf for just under a month after being diagnosed with a grade 2 UCL strain.
Though he is not expected to resume pitching at this time, Ohtani will at least bolster the Halos lineup. Indications are that he can swing freely without concern of further injuring his elbow.
The burgeoning star has outperformed the hype in all regards since coming over from Japan over the winter. As a hitter, Ohtani carries a .289/.372/.535 slash with six home runs in 129 plate appearances.
Ohtani will slot into the sixth slot of the lineup tonight, serving as the club’s designated hitter. In all likelihood, he’ll see quite a lot of time in that role until he’s able to begin throwing in earnest and, hopefully, get back on the mound.
The Angels have also called up righty Miguel Almonte. To create roster space, fellow right-handers Deck McGuire and Eduardo Paredes were optioned down.