Although many believed that on Sunday Mookie Betts would return to action with the Dodgers in the game against the Angels, the shortstop was still unable to play because he is still not fully recovered from the stomach illness that has caused him to lose several kilos.
Last week, Betts was pulled from the lineup during the Tokyo Series, in which the Dodgers defeated the Chicago Cubs in two games, and on Sunday he was unable to return to the field, although the team planned to give him at least four innings of play.
There is no exact date for Betts’ return to the mound, as the player himself revealed that his weight has been drastically reduced, and although he has already shown progress, for now he can only consume shakes, according to Essentially Sports.
What does Mookie Betts say about his health?
“It seems like I’m going to be a little bit still for a while. Maybe I’ll play a little bit harder at the beginning of the season. But I just want to play. I’m tired of sitting around, tired of throwing up, tired of doing all this stuff. I really just want to play,” the shortstop said, according to a post on X by Dodger Insider.
The outlet also indicates that Betts describes his illness as frustrating, as he has not yet been diagnosed with anything but has been unable to retain food since two days before the trip to Tokyo, otherwise he feels fine. And his current weight is 70 kilograms.
Staying at home must be very difficult for the player who had a great season in 2024, with 116 games played, where he recorded an offensive line of .289/.372/.491, in addition to hitting 19 home runs and 75 RBIs, details Essentially Sports
Likewise, the Tennessee native had a batting average of .222 during the 2024 National League Division Series.
With this in mind, it’s hard to think that Betts could be ready for the Dodgers’ first game against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.
Although his absence is very important to the team, the Dodgers are not rushing Betts back, they are letting him recover gradually. And according to Essentialy Sports, it is likely that the Los Angeles team will look to its $11 million prospect, Miguel Rojas, as the replacement for the shortstop, who would be on Opening Day.
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