Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts is facing a recovery period of six to eight weeks following a fracture to his left hand, as confirmed by team manager Dave Roberts.
This announcement comes just a day after the incident during Sunday’s game, where Betts sustained the injury.
Drawing parallels to a previous situation, Roberts mentioned that Betts’ recovery trajectory might mirror that of former Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager, who experienced a similar injury back in 2021.
In Betts’ absence, the Dodgers will rely on veteran Miguel Rojas to step up and assume the everyday shortstop responsibilities.
This arrangement, while not ideal, will hopefully stabilize the infield as the team navigates through this challenging period.
Although this injury is a significant setback for the Dodgers, the silver lining is that it is not anticipated to be season-ending. Betts, who was visibly in severe pain after being struck by a fastball, is projected to return to the lineup by September.
This timeline should allow him ample time to regain form ahead of the postseason. Nonetheless, from a personal achievement perspective, this injury likely derails any aspirations Betts might have had for clinching another MVP title this season.
Prior to his injury, Betts was delivering a strong performance for the season, with a batting average of .304, alongside 10 home runs and 40 RBIs through 72 games.
His absence will undoubtedly be felt, especially considering the Dodgers had already endured a particularly tough weekend with multiple injuries.
Given these circumstances, there might be heightened expectations for the Dodgers to be more proactive as the trade deadline approaches, possibly seeking additional talent to bolster their roster and mitigate the impact of recent injuries.
This strategic shift could be crucial in maintaining their competitiveness through the remainder of the season.