Los Angeles Angels general manager Billy Eppler said Thursday that Japanese two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani does not need any surgery as he recovers from an elbow injury.

"No doctor has told me that Shohei needs surgical intervention at this time," Eppler said during a conference call with journalists, ruling out the need for Tommy John surgery that would force him to miss the remainder of the 2018 season and the entire 2019 season.

(Ohtani stands in the batter's box during a pitcher's bullpen session on June 22.)

Eppler said Ohtani, who underwent an MRI earlier in the day, has been cleared to resume batting practice immediately. But he also said Ohtani will see doctors in three weeks to determine whether he can pitch again this season.

The general manager said Ohtani will not play in Minor League rehab games as the American League club prefers to have Ohtani rehab in a more controlled environment.

The 23-year-old Ohtani entered the disabled list earlier this month with a Grade 2 sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his right pitching elbow. He has since received injections of platelet-rich plasma and stem cells in order to regenerate tissue.

Ohtani is 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA in nine pitching starts in his debut major league season and is batting .289 with six homers and 20 RBIs as a hitter. He last played on June 6, when he exited the mound after four innings with a blister.

More on Ohtani:

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FACTFILE: Everything you need to know about Shohei Ohtani