Neal ElAttrache, MD, will perform Tommy John surgery on Los Angeles Angels' pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani the first week of the offseason, MLB.com reports.
Here's what you should know:
1. Mr. Ohtani was diagnosed with a grade 2 sprain earlier in the season. The Angels hoped to avoid surgery by treating the injury with platelet-rich plasma and stem cells in June.
2. He continued to bat while recovering, and the Angels attempted to let him start again Sept. 2. He left the start early due to injury. After viewing a new MRI, Dr. ElAttrache recommended Tommy John.
3. Mr. Ohtani is expected to return to the Angels in 2019 as a designated hitter, but he will not pitch for the team until 2020. Position players recover faster than pitchers from Tommy John and can swing while the ulnar collateral ligament is recovering.
4. Mr. Ohtani said to MLB.com, "Normal players, guys that only pitch or hit, they wouldn't be able to play at all next season, but fortunately, I have the luxury of being able to play as a hitter next season. I'm just trying to take positive stuff out of that and try to help the team win as many games as possible as a hitter."
5. Dr. ElAttrache is an orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles. He is the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Foundation board chairman and program director for the Kerlan-Jobe fellowship. He is president of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.
6. Dr. ElAttrache is the head team physician for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angeles Rams. He is also an orthopedic consultant to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks and PGA Tour.