Mookie Betts, the Los Angeles Dodgers leadoff hitter, and one of three All Stars at the top of the lineup, was hit by a pitch on his left hand in a June 16 game against the Kansas City Royals.
Royals reliever Dan Altavilla hit Betts in the hand with a blazing 97.9 miles per hour fastball.
Betts crumbled to the ground, and was seen writhing in pain before he left the game.
Betts has a fractured left hand. He does not need surgery, but he will be out for some time.
After he finishes rehabilitation, he will have to regain the strength in his hand, as well as regain his hitting mechanics.
Betts is one of the greatest players in the game.
Playing without Betts will really test an already challenged Dodgers roster.
Dodgers Now Face Serious Challenges:
How will the Dodgers fare without Mookie Betts?
Based upon their outstanding offseason acquisitions, many major league baseball analysts handed the 2024 World Series Championship to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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The popular conclusion of the Dodgers potential was based upon the team signing designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, pitchers Tyler Glasnow, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. All three are highly capable, All Star quality players.
Ohtani, 29, signed a 10-year, $700 million contract.
Ohtani has chosen to defer salary, electing to receive $2 million for each of the next 10 seasons. He will then receive $68 million for each of the 10 seasons from 2034-2043.
According to Sportrac.com MLB Team Tax Tracker, the Dodgers total estimated payroll is $328,337,780 for this season.
For comparison, the New York Mets are listed by sportrac.com at $339,746,165.
While the Dodgers are leading the National League West with a record of 44-29, they have plenty of challenges as they seek to win the World Series.
Dodgers Offensive Issues:
Third baseman Max Muncy, a dangerous power hitter, is sidelined with a strained oblique. He has been out since mid-May, with no immediate sign of his return.
Second baseman Gavin Lux, who many thought would be a consequential hitter, finds himself in a platoon situation, hitting just .212.
The Dodgers were counting on Lux to add some offense to the middle-infield.
James Outman, who started the season in the Dodgers outfield, is now at Triple-A Oklahoma City. Slugging rookie Andy Pages has taken Outman’s role.
As a team, the Dodgers are hitting, but scoring runs isn’t as easy as it would seem with a star-studded lineup.
Playing without Betts could seriously impact the team’s ability to score runs.
Dodgers Pitching Issues:
The Dodgers have played the season with several consequential starting pitchers on the Injured List.
Right-hander Tony Gonsolin is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. So is righty Emmet Sheehan.
Right-hander Dustin May is recovering from flexor tendon surgery.
Left-handed 10-time All Star Clayton Kershaw is moving closer to returning shoulder surgery.
Right-hander Bobby Miller is coming off shoulder inflammation, and is scheduled to start at Colorado June 19.
And just to complicate the starting pitching situation even more, international free agent right-handed starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto went on the Injured List June 16 with a strained right rotator cup.
The bullpen has also been thinned due to injuries.
Relievers including Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove, Joe Kelly, Ryan Brasier, and Connor Brogdon are all on the Injured List.
Moving Forward:
The Dodgers have been built to succeed in the regular season, succeed in the postseason, and move on to the World series.
One would expect that from a team with a payroll over $325 million.
But will serious injuries thwart their ultimate goal?
Every team suffers injuries in a given season.
Hitting is depressed so far this year in Major League Baseball.
Pitchers are dominating with high velocity fastballs, and a vast array of spinning breaking balls. Strikeouts continue to dominate baseball games.
The Dodgers, a well-balanced club, have to overcome the impact of serious injuries to core players like Mookie Betts and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
There is plenty of time for the Dodgers to widen their National League West League and get ready for the playoffs.
There is plenty of time for the Dodgers to get their injured players healthy and back on the roster.
For now, however, the Dodgers face serious injury issues that are providing unwanted hiccups to their currently successful season.
Missing Mookie Betts? That will be tough to overcome.
