Los Angeles Angels

Angels GM Eppler on Ohtani's elbow: 'We are pleased with results of physical'

Published Dec. 13, 2017 4:26 p.m. ET

This could be bad. But the Angels are taking it well.

According to a report by Yahoo! Sports on Tuesday, newest Angels star Shohei Ohtani has a damaged ulnar collateral ligament and underwent a platelet-rich plasma shot in October in Japan to help with the pain.

Ohtani, who was introduced to fans and the media on Saturday (watch the video up top), has a first-degree sprain of his right UCL, according to the report.

The 23-year-old right-handed pitcher and left-handed hitter was set to report to Tempe, Ariz. early for 2018 Spring Training.

Angels GM Billy Eppler, however, was not fazed by the news. The Angels had done their homework ahead signing Ohtani for north of $2.3 million and agreed to pay his former squad, the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters, a $20 million posting fee in spite of the injury.

"Shohei underwent a thorough physical with MRI scans to both his elbow and his shoulder. Those are scans we conduct whenever we sign a pitcher. Based on the readings of those MRIs, there are not signs of acute trauma in the elbow. It looks consistent with players his age. We are pleased with the results of the physical and we are very happy to have the player," Eppler told Yahoo! Sports.