Angels' Ohtani undergoes successful Tommy John surgery

Los Angeles Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani underwent Tommy John surgery on Monday to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

General manager Billy Eppler said Dr. Neal ElAttrache, the surgeon who performed the procedure, "is pleased with what he saw and feels confident in the recovery process," according to ESPN.

Despite the surgery, which will prevent him from pitching in 2019, Ohtani is expected to serve as a hitter next season. He'll likely rejoin the Angels rotation in time for the 2020 season.

The American League's rookie of the month in September, Ohtani put together an impressive first campaign in the majors. He hit .285/.361/.564 with 22 home runs and 10 stolen bases as a hitter and was 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA over 10 starts before being shut down in early September.