Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Will Use Injury Recovery For ‘Mental Break’
The Los Angeles Dodgers will be without their superstar infielder and 2023 National League MVP runner-up Mookie Betts for some time with a left hand fracture. The loss of Betts is monumental. Even though the Dodgers have the star power to remain at the top of the division and league, there’s no question his presence will be missed.
This is the last thing the Dodgers and their fans wanted to see. As for silver linings, the injury could boost Betts’ mental outlook in the long run. After Sunday’s game, the seven-time All-Star spoke with the media and said he would use his time on the IL as a recovery for a “mental break.”
“I’ll be watching the boys and cheering them on. Other than that, just kind of rest, maybe use it as a mental break and be ready to go whenever it heals up.”
— Mookie Betts
Betts was hit in the left hand by a 98-mph fastball thrown by Kansas City Royals reliever Dan Altavilla. Betts fell to the ground in pain and exited the game in the seventh inning.
Betts’ injury will not require surgery, and it is not season-ending. It was a weekend full of dark-clouds-with-silver-linings for the Dodgers, who also placed Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the IL.
It’s unclear how long Betts will be out. According to FOX Sports, he was the odds-on favorite to win the NL MVP award as of June 10. As of Monday, June 17, his odds were down to +2600. Dodgers superstar DH Shohei Ohtani is now the leader with +180 odds.
Betts is leading the Dodgers in on-base percentage (.405) and hits (86).
Photo Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
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