{"id":66459,"date":"2025-06-03T01:31:59","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T01:31:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=66459"},"modified":"2025-06-03T01:31:59","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T01:31:59","slug":"update-mookie-betts-making-strides-toward-return-for-dodgers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=66459","title":{"rendered":"UPDATE: Mookie Betts Making Strides Toward Return for Dodgers"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Dodgers\u2019 Mookie Betts progressing from toe fracture<\/span><\/h1>\n

The star shortstop says he stubbed his toe getting out of bed but hopes to return \u201cin the next couple of days\u201d as Dodgers manage more injuries<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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\"Dodgers<\/div>
Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts throws to first base to put out Cleveland Guardians\u2019 Gabriel Arias during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 26, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo\/David Dermer)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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LOS ANGELES \u2014 A world-class athlete, seemingly adept at every sport he tries his hand at \u2013\u00a0from baseball\u00a0to bowling to pickleball \u2013 Mookie Betts has a simple explanation for the injury that sidelined him for the weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust clumsiness, I guess,\u201d Betts said.<\/p>\n

Betts suffered a fracture of the fourth toe on his left foot in the most mundane of ways \u2013 he got out of bed in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just stubbed my toe,\u201d he said. \u201cWhatever you picture, getting out of bed, that\u2019s exactly what happened. We all have done it. I just so happened to fracture a toe. I\u2019m sure we all have some fractured toes from stuff like this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Betts said the only treatment he has received for the injury has been Aleve. But the pain had diminished enough Sunday that he was able to walk \u201cpretty normal\u201d and put on a shoe. He went through some preliminary drills, including hitting in the cage.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe did hit and he wasn\u2019t compromised at all swinging the bat,\u201d Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, adding that Hyeseong Kim will start at shortstop Monday and Betts remains day-to-day.<\/p>\n

Betts said defense is his first concern, and he won\u2019t return until he can \u201cmake sure I move to make plays for those guys. Hitting, hopefully, that comes along.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hitting has been more of an issue than defense for some time before the toe injury.\u00a0Betts\u2019 offseason dedication to improving as a shortstop has paid off. He ranks among the top handful of shortstops in the National League by virtually any metric.<\/p>\n

At the plate, though, Betts is having a decidedly down year, batting .257 with a .742 OPS. In his last 15 games before the injury, Betts was 12 for 58 (.207).<\/p>\n

Betts is putting the ball in play at the highest rate of his career. But he is hitting it hard less often. Statcast shows his barrel percentage (4.3) and hard-hit percentage (36.8) are the lowest of his career and hIs average exit velocity this season (89 mph) is his lowest since 2017.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not sure, man,\u201d Betts said of what is behind those numbers. \u201cI wish I knew, then I would answer it. But I don\u2019t have any real excuses or anything.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

His season has now been interrupted twice by health issues.\u00a0He suffered with a virus at the start of the season\u00a0that caused him to lose a significant amount of weight.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not frustrated by any means. It\u2019s all part of life, all part of it,\u201d Betts said. \u201cYou gotta take the good with the bad. I\u2019m not frustrated. I wouldn\u2019t even call it an obstacle. It\u2019s just whatever.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings have been just kind of all over the place. I just kind of reel it in, but I wouldn\u2019t blame those things for anything. I think the season\u2019s been going how the season\u2019s been going. We\u2019ve been playing pretty well, and so that\u2019s all that really matters.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

One thing Betts is sure of \u2013 his work and focus to\u00a0become better at shortstop\u00a0is not a factor in his down season so far offensively.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, you can point to it and try to make it about shortstop, but it\u2019s not about shortstop,\u201d Betts said. \u201cBecause remember, last year, I was playing pretty well, playing at shortstop. I had no idea what I was doing. Now, I\u2019m way more confident in how I show up and prepare each and every day. The shortstop argument can\u2019t be it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

REHAB ROUNDUP<\/strong><\/h4>\n

One thing Betts is sure of \u2013 his work and focus to\u00a0become better at shortstop\u00a0is not a factor in his down season so far offensively.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext weekend is something we\u2019re keeping an eye on\u201d for Yates\u2019 possible return, Roberts said.<\/p>\n

ROSTER MOVE<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Right-hander Luis Garcia became the 15th pitcher on the Dodgers\u2019 Injured List Sunday. He suffered a strained adductor muscle while covering first base in the ninth inning at Cleveland on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Right-hander Noah Davis was promoted from OKC to replace Garcia. Davis has made three appearances with the Dodgers this season, allowing four runs in 2 \u2154 innings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dodgers\u2019 Mookie Betts progressing from toe fracture The star shortstop says he stubbed his toe getting out of bed but hopes to return \u201cin the next couple… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":66464,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-66459","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nUPDATE: Mookie Betts Making Strides Toward Return for Dodgers - News 365<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/new365.azontree.com\/?p=66459\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UPDATE: Mookie Betts Making Strides Toward Return for Dodgers - 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