Injured elbow sends Ohtani to DL

Shohei Ohtani will go on the disabled list with a sprained elbow ligament, potentially derailing the two-way sensation’s remarkable rookie season.

The Angels are unsure about the severity of Ohtani’s injury, but the right-hander and DH won’t throw a ball until doctors reevaluate him in three weeks, GM Billy Eppler said Friday.

Ohtani left his last start after four innings Wednesday due to a recurring blister on his right middle finger. Eppler said that’s when the Angels got their first indication his elbow ligament might be distressed.

“As the game adrenaline wore off, he said, ‘My elbow is getting a little stiff,’ ” Eppler said.

Ohtani underwent injections of platelet-rich plasma and stem cells Thursday.

The Angels said Ohtani’s ulnar collateral ligament has a Grade 2 sprain, which typically indicates some degree of damage but not a complete tear. The injury doesn’t always require surgery, while Grade 3 sprains are usually repaired by Tommy John surgery.

“We’re hopeful that this is completely treatable with the biologic prescription the doctors recommend,” Eppler said.

Ohtani is 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA in his debut North American season, getting 61 strikeouts with a dazzling mix of 100-mph fastballs and precipitous breaking pitches. He has a vicious splitter, which typically puts significant stress on ligaments.

Ohtani also is batting .289 with six homers and 20 RBIs as baseball’s most successful twoway player in decades.

Eppler acknowledged that if Ohtani was only a hitter, he “probably” would be able to keep playing with such an injury.

“But that’s not his circumstance, and that’s not how we want to utilize him,” Eppler said.