The Los Angeles Angels gave Shohei Ohtani no assurances about starting the season on the Major League roster and there is growing speculation that he could begin 2018 in the Minor Leagues.

"In our universe, we are evaluating this in a vacuum," Billy Eppler said. "Is this 23-year-old prospect ready to make an impact on both sides of the ball?"

Ohtani has struggled at the plate and on the mound. He has two hits and three walks in 28 plate appearances as a hitter. That includes seven strikeouts.

In 2.2 innings as a pitcher, he's allowed eight earned runs.

"You saw some electric stuff and then you saw some inconsistency," Mike Scioscia said. "His stuff is picking up, which is a good sign. Harnessing it is what we're going to have to work on."

Both Scioscia and pitching coach Charles Nagy deferred to Eppler when asked about where Ohtani will begin the season.

"It's too early to make a judgment right now," Eppler said. "I know there's an inherent human desire to want to know. We're intellectually curious. But often times, you have to allow things to develop a little bit before getting to that point of trying to figure something out."