Notes: Angels’ Ohtani back in dual hitter/pitcher role

Shohei Ohtani will resume his twoway career with the Los Angeles Angels. General manager Billy Eppler confirmed Tuesday that his Japanese star will pitch and hit in the majors this season.

Ohtani was only a designated hitter last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. The right-hander wasn’t expected to pitch in 2020 until at least May, and Eppler confirmed that the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t altered the Angels’ plans.

“We’ll probably have a little bit more of a governor on him, at least at the outset,” Eppler said.

Yankees: Given an extra 3½ months for their brittle stars to heal, New York will closely monitor the conditioning of Aaron Judge (right pectoral muscle), James Paxton (herniated disk in back, peridiscal cyst), Aaron Hicks (Tommy John surgery on right elbow) and Giancarlo Stanton (right calf strain) ahead of a season unlike any other.

“We want these players to withstand a 60-game sprint over a 66-day schedule,” Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said on the eve of the first arrivals for “spring” training 2.0.

Rockies: Colorado outfielder Ian Desmond plans to sit out this season to be with his family and help grow youth baseball in his hometown of Sarasota, Florida.

Desmond, 34, wrote on Instagram that the “COVID-19 pandemic has made this baseball season one that is a risk I am not comfortable taking.” But the biracial slugger also mentioned a myriad of issues within baseball, including racism, sexism, homophobia and socioeconomic concerns.

Tigers: Detroit and No. 1 overall draft pick Spencer Torkelson agreed to a minor league contract on Tuesday, and the team said the infielder, who hit 54 home runs at Arizona State, will join its player pool for this abbreviated season. Torkelson’s deal includes an $8,416,300 is a signing bonus, which is $1,000 above slot value.

Orioles: Baltimore and outfielder Heston Kjerstad agreed to a minor league contract that includes a $5.2 million signing bonus, well below the slot value of $7,789,900 assigned to the No. 2 overall pick.