Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers initially believed Mookie Betts had avoided an injury that would keep him out after an X-ray came back negative and he was diagnosed with a chest contusion. However, persistent pain led to Betts undergoing an MRI that revealed a fractured rib.
The injury was compared to the non-displaced fracture Cody Bellinger suffered in his ribs last season, which kept him off the field for roughly two weeks. Betts and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts estimated a similar timetable applied.
Betts was first due to refrain from baseball activities for a few days before beginning a rehab process to return from the 10-day injured list.
However, Roberts revealed that has yet to take place and Betts no longer is expected to return within the timeframe of two weeks that was given June 19, according to Juan Toribio of MLB.com:
The Dodgers were hopeful Betts would resume baseball activities on June 26, but the outfielder hasn’t felt much better after suffering a right rib fracture on June 15 and hasn’t resumed baseball activities, according to manager Dave Roberts.
After dealing with right hip trouble throughout most of the 2021 season, Betts had proven to be healthy this year until suffering the rib fracture after colliding with Bellinger. Although another season is being interrupted by injury, he downplayed having frustration.
“It’s not disappointing at all. That’s kind of part of,” Betts said earlier this month. “It’s kind of like a freak accident. I’m out for a couple weeks and I’ll be able to be back and still help the team win. So I’m not disappointed by it.”
Betts additionally didn’t believe the time needed to recover would be a beneficial break as he had fallen into a slump.
“I know I wasn’t hitting great, but I wasn’t that far off. I hit some balls hard and none of them landed,” he said. “I didn’t really get out in May, so it’s kind of hard to hold that for a whole season. It all kind of balances out.
“You’ve just got to keep it in perspective. So not disappointed. Frustrated, but I wasn’t I wasn’t mad or I didn’t need to step away, because I wasn’t that far off.”
How Dodgers are replacing Mookie Betts
Any concern over how the Dodgers lineup would fare without Betts has been eased by Trea Turner excelling in the leadoff spot.
However, the same can’t be said for defense in right field or offensive production from those starting in place of Betts. Eddy Alvarez endured a rough game at the position, and the Dodgers traded for Trayce Thompson as they looked to fortify their position-player depth.
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