Sports
Dodgers Star Mookie Betts Suffers Broken Left Hand When Hit By A Pitch
LOS ANGELES — During Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Royals, Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts was struck by a pitch and sustained a broken left hand.
Dan Altavilla struck the former MVP and seven-time All-Star with a 97.9 mph fastball, sending him to the ground and into excruciating pain. Though the injury would not need surgery, manager Dave Roberts was unsure of Betts’ time off.
Mookie Betts | AP News Image
Dodgers Star Mookie Betts Suffers Broken Left Hand When Hit By A Pitch
After the Dodgers won 3-0, Betts appeared in the clubhouse with his left hand wrapped. His appointment with hand expert Dr. Steven Shin is on Monday.
Since that was, I believe, my first-hand blow, I wasn’t sure. When asked if he realized the hand was fractured right away, Betts answered, “I just went numb, and it hurt.” Sadly, it is broken. We are powerless at this point.
Up and in. My position was solid. I was unfortunate to get struck in the hand.
Sunday saw Betts go 0 for 3, and his batting average fall to 304, which is sixth in the majors. His on-base percentage (.405) finished fourth, while his 86 hits matched for fifth place.
Roberts said the blow was severe. Mookie is enjoying an MVP-caliber season, so I feel horrible for him.
Roberts and the trainers hurried out of the dugout to tend to Betts after the pitch struck him in the top of the hand. Watchers in Dodger Stadium’s lower deck and on television could hear the ball strike Betts’ hand quite plainly.
According to MLB.com, the fastball “slipped arm-side,” and Altavilla said there was “absolutely no intent” when he attempted to get inside.
Mookie Betts | AP news Image
Dodgers Star Mookie Betts Suffers Broken Left Hand When Hit By A Pitch
“We want to see how Dan does here by getting him some innings. That is regrettable. I feel awful, to be honest, Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. Nobody wants to witness that, particularly with a man like Mookie, who we all respect for his professionalism and contributions to the game.
Miguel Rojas will start shortstop for the Dodgers, with Kiké Hernández also seeing time there.
Roberts indicated he would probably put Shohei Ohtani in the leadoff position.
It is so difficult to see. Ohtani stated via interpreter that he plays a crucial role for the club. In my opinion, the rest of the team has to pick him up.
The Dodgers, 44-29 and leading San Diego by eight games in the NL West, had a difficult weekend despite winning two of three against the Royals.
Pregame, right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto, was put on the 15-day injured list due to a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder.
Mookie Betts | AP News Image
Dodgers Star Mookie Betts Suffers Broken Left Hand When Hit By A Pitch
“To be honest, teams experience this frequently, and we’ve gone through it a lot,” Roberts added. That is baseball, after all. Guys know they will have chances and must play well, so you must move forward.
Betts has not been on the injured list in more than two years. A shattered right rib cost him almost three weeks of work in June 2022.
“Of course, I’ll be watching the boys and supporting them, but other than that, it’s just rest, maybe use it as a mental break, and be ready to go whenever it heals up,” Betts said.
SOURCE – (AP)
