Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts says he has lost 18 pounds after falling ill during the team’s recent trip to Japan for MLB’s Tokyo Series, claiming his body has been ‘eating itself’

Mookie Betts, the star player for Major League Baseball’s LA Dodgers, claims a mystery illness has caused his weight to plummet as his body ‘eats itself’.

The eight-time MLB All-Star was unable to participate in the recent MLB Tokyo Series due to the illness.

It led him to miss the doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs. Betts, the former Boston Red Sox ace, has been grappling with the mystery illness since March 10.

He has struggled to keep solid food down for a fortnight.

Having entered spring training at a listed weight of 175 pounds, the Dodgers’ star is now down to 157. He was sent home early from Tokyo and then looked set to play in the Dodgers Freeway Series exhibition match against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.

However, Betts was pulled from the Dodgers lineup approximately 90 minutes before the game, which his team clinched with a 7-1 victory.

In conversation with reporters, Betts detailed how he began feeling unwell two days before the Dodgers’ departure for Tokyo.

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“Two days before Tokyo, two days before Tokyo,” Betts shared reports the Mirror US. “Didn’t get to play the last game, so, got on the plane, I thought I would at least give myself a couple of days to kind of heal.

“Then the plane ride was brutal. That was one of the worst plane rides I’ve ever had. Got there, got one workout in, that was a really bad trip in Tokyo.

“So I came back, another bad plane ride. There hasn’t been anything very encouraging, but it is what it is.”

The 32 year-old has been able to keep liquids down but is currently struggling to consume solid food without getting sick. Betts added: “I mean, I feel great.

Like, my body feels great. I’ve been able to work out. I’ve been able to do pretty much everything but eat, which is strange.

“So the symptoms have kind of gone away, I just have to figure out how to get my stomach to kind of calm down.

Further discussing his situation, he remarked: “It’s just hard to fathom not eating and going to play a game.

“So it looks like I’m just going to be light for a little bit. Maybe I play uphill a little bit for the beginning of the season. But no, I just want to play, man. I’m tired of sitting, tired of throwing up, tired of doing all this. I really just want to play.”