TEMPE Babe Ruth Jersey , Ariz. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hopes to hit off a tee next week for the first time since Tommy John surgery.“That’s the thought, but I’m not trying to rush myself,” the two-way Los Angeles Angels star said through an interpreter Sunday.The AL Rookie of the Year had surgery Oct. 1 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament, and the Angels think the earliest he could be ready to hit in games is in May. The 24-year-old hopes to start the pitching phase of his rehabilitation at the end of spring training.“So far, things are going as planned http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey ,” Ohtani said. “No problems at all. But maybe once I start throwing, maybe I’ll start having some issues. But as of now, everything has been going well.”Ohtani went 4-2 with a 3.31 ERA in 10 starts as a pitcher. He played 104 games overall as a rookie, hitting .285 with 22 homers and 61 RBIs.“Physically, he’s a once in a lifetime type talent Freddie Freeman Jersey ,” new Angels manager Brad Ausmus said. “Now if we can get him back to where he was at the start of last year, it’d be perfect. The fans love to watch him, we love to have him in a uniform.”What has Ausmus learned about Ohtani so far?“I can say this, he’s intense for sure,” Ausmus said. “He seems to have a good sense of humor but when it comes to baseball http://www.bravesfanproshop.com/authentic-nick-markakis-jersey , it’s almost as if he’s on a mission.”The Angels have another two-way player on their roster in Jared Walsh, who is a left-handed reliever and plays first base and the outfield. Ohtani has said hello but hasn’t talked much to Walsh.“It wasn’t one of my goals but it is a good thing if people start doing it because of me,” Ohtani said. “Right now, I just need to focus on myself.” FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora addressed the team on Friday morning about the death of longtime Boston Globe baseball writer Nick Cafardo.Cora said he told the players to enjoy themselves on the field and to celebrate Cafardo’s life.Cafardo collapsed outside the Red Sox clubhouse on Thursday and died of what his newspaper said was an apparent embolism. He was 62 and had covered the team for most of the past 30 years.The Red Sox placed a dozen roses at Cafardo’s seat in the press box on Friday morning. The Baltimore Orioles‘ beat writers and media-relations staff sent five dozen donuts Bob Uecker Jersey , along with their condolences.Cora used his mid-morning session with reporters to speak for more than seven minutes about Cafardo and chose not to discuss any other topics.He told reporters: “That’s why I don’t get caught up in the whole game. It’s just a game. When you leave, that’s real. Life is real.”