DODGERS' MOOKIE BETTS HIT BY PITCH, FRACTURES LEFT HAND

USA TODAY Sports 

 Los Angeles Dodgers star shortstop Mookie Betts fractured his left hand when he was hit by a pitch in the seventh inning of a 3-0 victory Sunday over the visiting Kansas City Royals, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the game.

The team also said Betts won't need surgery and there is no timetable for his return.

"It's just going to be rest and let the bones heal," said Roberts, calling it a big blow to the team.

Betts was hit in the left wrist by a 97.9-mph fastball from Royals reliever Dan Altavilla and went to the ground in extreme pain. Betts, who hadn't been hit by a pitch this season, took a few minutes before walking to the dugout. He was replaced by pinch runner Miguel Rojas with the Dodgers leading 3-0, and Rojas didn't score.

"Absolutely no intent," Altavilla said. "I was trying to go inside in a 1-2 count and it slipped armside out of my hand. I really hope he's OK."

Betts was last on the injured list in June 2022 with a cracked right rib. He said he will see Dr. Steven Shin, an orthopedic surgeon, on Monday to examine the hand and determine treatment.

"Obviously, I'll be watching the boys, cheering them on," Betts said. "But other than that, it's just kind of rest, maybe use it as a mental break. Be ready to go whenever it heals up."

Betts, 31, was 0-for-3 on Sunday to lower his batting average to .304. He entered the game leading the Dodgers in batting average (.307), on-base percentage (.407), hits (86), at-bats (280), triples (three) and walks (47) in 71 games. He also had 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in a National League-high 327 plate appearances going into Sunday.

"He's a superstar player; he's a big part of our ballclub," Roberts said. "But our guys understand that that's part of baseball and you got to move forward. And guys are going to get opportunities and got to play well."

One idea, Roberts said, is to move superstar Shohei Ohtani into Betts' spot at the top of the batting order, something he was comfortable doing while with the Los Angeles Angels.

"He's obviously a very important part of the team," Ohtani said through interpreter Wil Ireton. "And if he's out for some time, then it's really up to the rest of the team to pick him up so that we can continue."

A seven-time All-Star and six-time Gold Glove Award winner, Betts was the 2018 American League Most Valuable Player while with the Boston Red Sox. He is a career .295 hitter with 262 home runs and 796 RBIs in 1,337 games over 11 seasons with the Red Sox (2014-19) and Dodgers.

- Reuters