T.J. SURGERY FOR ANGELS’ OHTANI

» Angels twoway rookie Shohei Ohtani will have Tommy John surgery next week.

The Angels confirmed Ohtani’s longexpected decision on elbow ligament replacement Tuesday. Dr. Neal ElAttrache will perform the surgery in Los Angeles.

“I think it was the proper decision Shohei made to have surgery, and the sooner the better,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said before his club faced the Texas Rangers, with Ohtani batting cleanup as the designated hitter.

Ohtani won’t be able to pitch for the Angels in 2019, but he is likely to hit at some point early next season. When asked whether Ohtani is likely to be ready for opening day as a hitter, Scioscia said there are “too many variables” to make a confident prediction.

Ohtani wasn’t available to reporters before the game, but Scioscia confirmed general manager Billy Eppler’s earlier statements that the Angels are committed to Ohtani’s determination to be a twoway player.

Mets exec expects manager back.

YORK» Mets assistant NEW general manager John Ricco says he fully anticipates rookie skipper Mickey Callaway coming back next year despite New York’s disappointing season.

Ricco might not be the one making that call, though. He has been running baseball opera tions along with special assistants J.P. Ricciardi and Omar Minaya since GM Sandy Alderson stepped down in late June after his cancer returned. New York plans to hire a new general manager after the season.

Yankees OF Hicks about to return.

ST. PETERSBURG,

FLA.» Outfielder Aaron Hicks should recover from a tight left hamstring in a few days and return to the Yankees’ lineup this week, according to manager Aaron Boone. — The Associated Press