Mookie Betts began his rehab assignment on Friday, collecting one hit in three at-bats for Triple-A Oklahoma City to begin the process of working toward a return to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup.
Betts played in a second game with the Comets on Saturday and remains on track to be activated off the 10-day injured list Monday. Though the Dodgers are certainly eager to see Betts make his way back from a right oblique strain, they plan to limit his workload early on.
“I think one part of it is taking six to seven at-bats,” Roberts said of the rehab assignment. “Feel good with his timing, build up some endurance with playing defense and both sides of the ball, the running piece, and hopefully, he gets tested where he doesn’t feel anything, and that’s about it
“I mean, I do think that once he gets back with us, we’re not going to run him out there every single day. There will probably be a couple of days that he kind of gets introduced to playing a lot. But yeah, that’s it. I’m going to kind of count on Mookie, but as long as he’s healthy, then we’re better with him, certainly.”
The Dodgers initially were unsure if Betts would be sent to the Minors, with Roberts noting that he is “probably not one that loves going to a rehab assignment”. In fact, Friday’s Minor League appearance was a first for the four-time MVP since he played in one game at the Double-A level in 2015.
That could explain the simple goals and short timeline the Dodgers set for Betts.
Roberts said at the time of Betts suffering his injury that he believed a return would come before the general timetable of four to six weeks for an oblique strain. Monday is going to mark five weeks from the date he was put on the IL.
Mookie Betts, Kiké Hernández on rehab assignments
Kiké Hernández is also on a rehab assignment with the Comets, although he is further along than Betts after having been assigned on May 5.
Hernández began the season on the 60-day injured list amid his recovery from having left elbow surgery in the offseason. He has progressed significantly ahead of schedule from what the team had initially estimated and should be activated May 25.
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