Dodgers' Mookie Betts hit by pitch, fractures left hand

Field Level Media|published: Sun 16th June, 19:07 2024

Jun 15, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) runs to first base in the third inning against the Kansas City Royals at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-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.

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.

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.

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.

--Field Level Media