While the Los Angeles Dodgers have made recent strides toward getting back to full health, they figure to finish out the season by managing Mookie Betts through a right hip injury.
Betts’ hip trouble became public knowledge after he was removed from a game against the Colorado Rockies during the first series coming out of the All-Star break. Up to that point it was believed Betts skipped the Midsummer Classic because of nagging left shoulder and back trouble.
However, the right hip has now required a stint on the 10-day injured list and another early exit in the opener of the Freeway Series.
Betts returned to the lineup on Saturday but as David Vassegh relayed on the SportsNet LA broadcast, is playing through a hip injury that would prompt most to miss the remainder of the season:
“I had a chance to talk to him after batting practice, and what he described to me without going into too much great detail, any other player would shut down their season.”
The Dodgers previously indicated Betts underwent an MRI and have described the issue to be inflammation and a hip pointer. Betts recently received a cortisone injection but it was slow to take effect and that led to a relatively brief stint on the IL.
In addition to potentially playing him at second base on occasion, the Dodgers intend to have daily conversations with Betts to monitor the condition of his hip. The team has also encouraged him to effectively play half a step slower than normal.
Roberts: Betts’ hip injury ‘not going to go away’
The Dodgers have resigned themselves to Betts needing to finish the season without getting back to 100% health.
“I think it’s something that as we look out we’re probably going to have to manage it a lot,” manager Dave Roberts said. “Ideally we wouldn’t. Our reality is it’s something that’s not going to go away.
“Mookie is doing what he can to give us innings out there defensively, give us at-bats, play with a governor on, so we’ve just got to manage him. Fortunately, we’ve got a lot of good players that can help support.”
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