The Los Angeles Dodgers have a major potential problem to worry about on Sunday after star shortstop Mookie Betts had to leave their game against the Kansas City Royals after taking a 98 mph fastball to his left hand.
Betts was hitting in the bottom of the seventh inning when a Dan Altavilla fastball rode in on him and struck his hand.
Betts immediately dropped to the ground and was writhing in pain for several minutes before being helped off the field. As he walked off the field he could be seen trying to close his hand and at one point stopped and hunched over again in pain.
Here is a look at the pitch, and you can tell by the sound of the pitching hitting him, as well as the reaction of the Dodgers broadcast, that it does not seem good.
Mookie Betts exited the game after being hit in the hand with a 98mph fastball pic.twitter.com/lmRB3571Tt
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 16, 2024
Betts is having another huge year for the Dodgers and at the time of his exit from Sunday's game was hitting .304 with an .893 OPS. He is one of three former MVP winners at the top of the Dodgers lineup, joining Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. That trio helps form one of the most imposing lineups in the league.
If Betts has to miss any significant time the Dodgers would still have a top-tier lineup and be one of the best teams in the National League, but that would be a significant loss. Their only hope at this point is that it does not turn out to be as bad as it looked or sounded.
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