The Angels are holding out hope for half of Shohei Ohtani’s skill set this season.

The same day it was reported the Angels pitcher/hitter would likely require season-ending Tommy John surgery on his ailing right elbow, manager Mike Scioscia left the door open for Ohtani returning from the disabled list solely as a designated hitter. Scioscia reiterated Monday night that the team plans to evaluate Ohtani three to four weeks from Friday, when it was announced he had a grade 2 sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching arm.

If the doctors clear the 23-year-old Ohtani to hit, Scioscia told reporters they would consider using him in the lineup even if he’s not medically fit to pitch. Scioscia added that Ohtani has begun rehab and he had no further updates on his health to report.

Hours earlier, the Angels were said to be “cautiously optimistic” Ohtani would resume play this season either as a hitter or in both roles, according to MLB Network.

The general optimism around the Japanese rookie’s recovery veered from the speculation Monday morning that Tommy John surgery was the likeliest next step. If Ohtani got the surgery, he would miss the rest of this season and possibly all of next season, too, ESPN reported.

Angels general manager Billy Eppler was quick to shoot down the surgery talk.

“There have been no changes in Ohtani’s diagnosis and neither our physicians nor medical staff have recommended [Tommy John surgery] or said it’s likely,” Eppler said in response to the report.

The Angels would surely welcome just Ohtani’s bat, as the DH has posted a .289/.372/.535 slash line with six home runs and 20 RBIs in 114 at-bats. On the mound, the right-hander is 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings pitched.