Los Angeles Dodgers superstar shortstop Mookie Betts is expected to miss 6-8 weeks after suffering a hand fracture in the team’s Sunday win against the Kansas City Royals.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the news before the team’s Monday matchup with the Colorado Rockies.
Royals relief pitcher Dan Altavilla hit Betts in the left hand in the bottom of the seventh inning. Betts immediately fell to the ground in pain and was eventually taken out of the game.
Betts — a seven-time All-Star, six-time Silver Slugger and winner of the 2018 American League Most Valuable Player Award — has been an integral part of the Dodgers’ success since getting trades to Los Angeles in a February 2020 trade.
He helped the Dodgers break a 32-year World Series drought in his first season with the franchise in the COVID-19 shortened season.
Betts has finished top-5 in National League MVP voting three times since joining the Dodgers.
In 2024, Betts switched positions and went from being one of baseball’s top outfielders to the game’s best middle infielder. Despite the complete position change, Betts’ incredible play on the field has persisted. He has a batting average above .300 and an .892 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS).
Los Angeles holds the second-best record in the NL through the first three months of the season. With Betts’ hand fracture, one of baseball’s best teams will look within to replace MVP-caliber production.
There are some viable options for the Dodgers over the next two months. Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas took Betts’ place at shortstop in the first game since the injury. He racked up three hits — two singles and an RBI double — in the Dodgers’ 9-5 win at Coors Field.
Gavin Lux will continue to play the other middle infield position for Los Angeles. Lux has already played 56 games at second base this season.
The Dodgers could look to gain additional depth at the middle infield through trades before the 2024 MLB trade deadline. The Dodgers will have until July 30 at 6 p.m. eastern time to make the necessary moves for the rest of the season.
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