Even a torn ulnar collateral ligament — and the potential need for a second Tommy John surgery at some point — won’t prevent Shohei Ohtani from contributing to the Angels.

The two-way star, who exited his start Wednesday with right elbow discomfort before receiving the injury diagnosis, will continue serving as the Angels’ designated hitter, which could include appearances in their lineup during the three-game series against the Mets this weekend at Citi Field.

The Post’s Jon Heyman reported Thursday that this will remain the Angels’ plan “until further notice.”

Ohtani’s injury, which will prevent him from pitching again this season and potentially in 2024, became the latest wrinkle in the last chance for the Angels to make the playoffs before his contract expires — and the free agency sweepstakes that could reach $500 million commence.

They haven’t made the playoffs since Ohtani arrived in 2018, and their 2023 trajectory appears headed for a similar conclusion despite his 44 homers, .304 batting average, 1.069 OPS and 3.14 ERA through 23 starts.

The Angels currently sit 10.5 games behind Houston for the final AL wild card spot entering Friday’s games.

Mike Trout went back on the injured list — with pain in the same left hand as the fracture of a hamate bone earlier this season — just one day after playing for the first time since July 3 and going 1-for-4.

Anthony Rendon has just played 43 games and has been out since July 4.

And then the Ohtani injury occurred in the second inning of the Angels’ game Wednesday against the Reds, with the scare of his early exit — the latest in a season where blisters have limited past starts — only worsened when the results of the UCL tear were released.

Ohtani still played in the second game of their doubleheader in Cincinnati, though, and went 1-for-5 while scoring a run in the Angels’ 7-3 loss.

In 2018, Ohtani underwent his first Tommy John surgery and didn’t pitch the following season, returning to the mound in 2020 even as he continued to DH.

That could emerge as a similar blueprint, though it’s still unclear if another Tommy John procedure will be necessary.

And the first test of whether the DH approach could work again, and if it could somehow help the Angels reverse their current postseason reality, will likely materialize this weekend in Queens.