by Rowan Kavner
Eight days ago, Mookie Betts walked gingerly off the field after a double in the seventh inning of a four-hit day in Colorado. He has not started a game since. On Sunday, Betts was placed on the injured list with right hip inflammation.
Betts had dealt with a number of what he described as “nagging things” this year, even missing the All-Star Game in an attempt to heal and recover. Among the known aches and pains throughout the year were back, forearm and shoulder afflictions, none of which required an injured list stint. His hip issue came to be revealed after it forced him out of that game against the Rockies.
Manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday the “hip pointer” is among the injuries Betts has battled all year. Running long distances tended to exacerbate the problem, which was at its worst after he scored from second base on one of his three runs July 17 in Colorado.
The 2018 American League MVP wasn’t expected to miss much time, but he hasn’t appeared in a game since a pinch-hit at-bat Monday.
“Today we’ll make that decision if we’re going to IL him or continue to kick it down the road,” Roberts said before Sunday’s game.
Soon after, Betts was placed on the 10-day injured list for the first time as a Dodger. The move is retroactive to July 22. Reliever Jimmy Nelson was activated, returning from a left lumbar strain.
Despite the pain he was dealing with, Betts was in the midst of his hottest stretch of the season when he departed with the injury. He was 12-for-16 with seven extra-base hits in his last four starts before going down, raising his OPS for the year from .799 to .876 in the process.
Betts and the Dodgers had managed the outfielder’s discomfort until it became too much. The Dodgers hoped the All-Star break would give Betts the physical and mental break he needed to get himself right. Betts hoped so, too, in a season that didn’t start the way he wanted, slashing .256/.366/.472 heading into the break.
“There’s just no break in baseball, so this is the only time I can really get a break of more than a day,” Betts said after opting out of the All-Star Game. “So, I just want to use it to the best that I can. I would love to be in the All-Star Game, but I think we all know the goal is to win a World Series, and I think this break will definitely help me to help us get to that point.”
After homering in each of his final two games before the All-Star break, Betts looked equally rejuvenated to start the second half. He recorded three hits on July 16 and four extra-base hits in his next game before the injury became too much to battle through.
“He’s always going to downplay the physical toll it’s been on him this year, which I appreciate,” Roberts said Tuesday. “But I sort of know what’s been going on under the hood.”
Quick Hits:
- Roberts said it “seems very likely” that Corey Seager (fractured hand) will go on a rehab assignment after his trip to Camelback Ranch, where he will take part in simulated games.
- Cody Bellinger is still out of the starting lineup Sunday after leaving Friday’s game with left hamstring tightness, which sent him to the injured list a month ago. The hope is Bellinger can return to the lineup after Monday’s off day.
- Right-hander Jake Reed, who was designated for assignment on Wednesday, was claimed by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Injury Updates: Mookie Betts placed on IL for first time as a Dodger was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.
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