Mookie Betts Placed on Injured Reserve

This past Sunday, the Dodgers announced that their star shortstop, Mookie Betts, has been placed on the injured reserve list due to an oblique strain.

To fill the gap, they have called up second-year infielder Kim Hye-sung from Triple-A.

This decision came shortly after Betts was ejected in the first inning of Saturday’s game. He felt something in his back while dashing from first base to home after a double by Freddie Freeman.

After undergoing an MRI late Saturday, manager Dave Roberts shared that Betts is expected to be out for at least “the next few days.” This marks the team’s first significant injury loss since the season started.

In Betts’ absence, it looks like Miguel Rojas and Alex Freeland will likely share duties at shortstop. They have previously played at second base, and it’s anticipated they’ll still see action there as well.

With Kim back on the roster, he might just get regular playing time. That’s a shift from last year’s playoffs, when he mostly acted as a pinch runner and defensive substitute, following what was a strong start in his rookie season that unfortunately lost momentum towards the end.

Starting this season in Triple-A, the 27-year-old kicked off with a solid batting average of .346, hitting 9 times in 26 attempts, along with a double, two RBIs, and four walks. Plus, there’s been a notable improvement in his strikeout rate, only being struck out seven times in his first 32 at-bats.

Now, his aim should be to focus on getting quality at-bats, leveraging his contact skills, and using his speed and defense to contribute positively to the team. Sure, it’s still early in the season—just eight games have passed—but the Dodgers will certainly feel the need for his contributions as they navigate this initial injury setback.