"Mookie Betts has been out for over a month with a right oblique strain, but he is now on the cusp of returning to the Dodgers. After two rehab games, Betts is returning to Los Angeles today and is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list tomorrow, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic."
"Betts only made 32 plate appearances with a 99 wRC+ before landing on the 10-day injured list on April 5. That's a negligible sample size on its own, though it also mirrors Betts' diminished offensive output in 2025. In 150 games, he batted .258/.326/.406 with a 104 wRC+. That still made Betts an above-average hitter, but not to the heights he has set in his career."
"There is also reason to believe Betts was unlucky last year. For one thing, he batted just .258 on balls in play, well below his career BABIP of .299. While Betts' 89.1 MPH average exit velocity and 35.8% hard-hit rate were both lower than in 2024, his batting average, slugging percentage, and wOBA were all 9-16 points lower than their expected values."
"Even this year, losing Betts for over a month hasn't slowed Los Angeles down, as the 24-15 Dodgers are again atop the NL West. The duo of Hyeseong Kim and Miguel Rojas have capably filled in at shortstop during Betts' absence, and Kim in particular has performed well, hitting .301/.366/.411 over 82 PA this season. Kim and Alex Freeland will likely be splitting time at second base once Betts is back st shortstop, with Rojas retur"
Mookie Betts is close to returning to the Los Angeles Dodgers after more than a month on the injured list with a right oblique strain. He completed two rehab games and is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list after returning to Los Angeles. Before the injury, he had limited plate appearances and his 2025 production had been below his usual standards, though still slightly above average. His prior season output included a low batting average on balls in play and several results below expected marks, suggesting possible bad luck. His offensive dip has been balanced by strong defense and continued contributions to team success. The Dodgers have remained atop the NL West during his absence, with Hyeseong Kim and Miguel Rojas covering shortstop, and roster adjustments likely once Betts returns.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]