Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Takes Big Step Toward Return From Injury

Mookie Betts has been sidelined with a fractured hand since June 16 but was on the field before Friday’s game against the Boston Red Sox at Dodger Stadium, taking ground balls and playing catch without restrictions.

However, this doesn’t mean he is returning from the injured list soon.

“It was just like routine grounders. Not taking them off the bat yet,” he said. “But I can’t squeeze anything. Like on the backhand, I can’t really squeeze it or nothing.

“I only have like 40 percent, 50 percent strength in my hand. I’ve got to get the strength up before I do (anything that involves holding a bat).”

Manager Dave Roberts wants Betts to be at 85 percent before he begins swinging a bat.

Betts is scheduled for his weekly examination on Saturday but it was promising to see him on the field sans splint before the Dodgers opened up the second half of the season against his former team. His weekly scans have shown that the bone is healing properly but isn’t completely healed yet.

Betts said that doctors have told him his injury “takes six to eight weeks – then you’ve got to layer on all the rehabbing. There’s a lot of layers to it.”

“They said everything is on track,” Betts said. “It’s just something you don’t want to rush and then you start making bad habits in your swing – then it’s good that you came back but you’re doing more harm than good. I just want to make sure I’m ready to go.”

Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

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