Los Angeles Dodgers Lose Superstar With A Broken Hand
The Los Angeles Dodgers could be without superstar Mookie Betts for up to two months. He was hit by a pitch that fractured his hand on Sunday afternoon by Kansas City Royals right-hander Dan Altavilla.
"You have to stay in there; you can't be scared. The guy has a pretty good slider, so it was up and in, and it hit my hand," Betts said after the game. "It just went numb, and it hurt; unfortunately, it's broken, but there's nothing I can do now."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Betts will not need surgery. He rolled around the batter's box in pain for several minutes before being helped off the field by Dodgers' trainers. The team did not offer a timetable for his return.
Miguel Rojas To Play Short For Los Angeles
Defensively, the Dodgers are not going to suffer with Betts out. Miguel Rojas will get the majority of starts at short.
"It's a big blow, it is; I feel bad for Mookie, Roberts said, "he's having an MVP-type season. We're going to be fine, we have good players, and we have to move on."
It has been a difficult 24 hours for the Dodgers. The team placed right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the 15-day IL with a strained rotator cuff. The Dodgers say his injury is not season-ending. Michael Grove also went on the injured list today for Los Angeles with a right intercostal strain.
Betts Off To A Great Offensive Start
The Dodgers' leadoff hitter has started the 2024 season strong at the plate. He ranks eighth in batting with a .307 average, .900 OPS, ten home runs and 40 RBI. Betts' strong performance at the plate is even more impressive because he's learning to play a new position.
The Gold Glove right fielder moved to shortstop full-time this season. He's been working with veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas to learn the position. Betts has nine errors this season and has only a .963 fielding percentage. Betts had played short in only 16 games in his 11-year career before this season.
Dodgers Top The National League West
Fans are grumbling as the All-Star Break approaches. But the Dodgers are in first place in the National League West, 15 games over .500. Los Angeles has an eight-game lead over the second-place San Diego Padres. Many major league teams would love to be grumbling about a start like this.
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