Down more than a few pounds, Mookie Betts was in the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Opening Day lineup, batting second and playing the entire game at shortstop against the Detroit Tigers.
Despite Detroit having American League Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal on the mound, Betts went 1-for-3 with a walk in a 5-4 Dodgers win, improving the defending champs’ record to 3-0.
Betts, 32, missed the Dodgers’ first two games of the season in the Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs on March 18-19 due to an illness that was described as “flu-like symptoms.” He stayed out of the lineup for two more spring training games once the Dodgers returned to the U.S.
Advertisement
He finally played in Tuesday’s preseason finale in the Freeway Series matchup versus the Los Angeles Angels. Betts batted second and went 0-for-3 while playing five innings at shortstop. Two days prior to his appearance, he revealed to reporters that he had lost 18 pounds while dealing with the illness, which began before the Dodgers left for Japan.
Listed at 180 pounds, Betts reportedly got down to 157 pounds during what he described as a difficult experience with an inability to keep solid food down.
“I’m tired of sitting, tired of just throwing up, tired of doing all this. I just really want to play,” he said, via the Los Angeles Times. “My body’s just kind of eating itself. It’s hard to not fuel it. And so every time — literally, every time — I fuel my body, I throw up. … I don’t know what to do.”
Betts was initially expected to play Sunday until he began vomiting again before that day’s game. He explained to reporters that he was able to work out regularly with the illness, but the issues arose when he attempted to eat solid food.
Advertisement
Elsewhere in the Dodgers lineup, there is concern that Enrique Hernández may be dealing with the same illness that afflicted Betts. He’s now vomiting and struggling with keeping food down, as well. However, manager Dave Roberts said he’s not concerned that something is going around the team’s clubhouse.
Betts begins the season as the Dodgers’ shortstop after starting at the position last year before moving back to right field, where he has played most of his career. Even with the position switch, he batted .289 with an .863 OPS, 19 home runs, 24 doubles, 75 RBI and 16 stolen bases in 2024. He was limited to 116 games due to a fractured left hand.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
