Mookie Betts’ Injury Deals Serious Blow to Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers were on their way to a routine Sunday victory over the Kansas City Royals when fate intervened in the worst way.

A 98-mph fastball from Royals pitcher Dan Altavilla rode in on Mookie Betts, striking the star shortstop in the left hand and causing a fracture.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters after the game that Betts will not require surgery but faces an extended absence as he attempts to allow the injury to heal with rest.

Left fielder Miguel Vargas, who was optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday, will return to take Betts’ roster spot. Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas will get the majority of reps at shortstop in Betts’ absence — at least for now. And the Dodgers will try to forge ahead without their leadoff hitter who finished second in National League MVP voting just last year.

Betts, 31, was hitting .307 with a .407 on-base percentage and .493 slugging percentage. He was 9-for-10 in stolen base attempts and has batted more times (327 plate appearances) than any National League player.

More significantly, Betts had shifted from second base to shortstop in spring training in the wake of a disastrous defensive debut by Gavin Lux. While Lux moved to second base, Betts shifted to a position he hadn’t played regularly since he was a minor leaguer a decade earlier. Oftentimes, the transition looked seamless. Only eight shortstops have more defensive runs saved this season than Betts’ three.

The Dodgers beat the Royals Sunday, 3-0, and are 44-29 — the second-best record in the National League. As the Dodgers attempt to get a handle on their outlook without Betts between now and the July 30 trade deadline, the likelihood of the Dodgers bolstering their infield depth only increases.

Rojas, 35, is a more capable defensive shortstop than Betts but he’s a career .258 hitter with 47 home runs across 11 seasons. Recently, Roberts has been reluctant to give Rojas extended playing time because of a leg injury he’s attempting to play through.

The Angels’ Luis Rengifo, 27, is hitting .315 with four home runs and 18 stolen bases in 24 attempts. He’s a switch hitter and a versatile defender who could back up at multiple infield positions after Betts returns.

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, 26, is a career .293 hitter who belted a career-high 29 home runs just three years ago. He’s tailed off on both sides of the ball this year, batting .237 with only four home runs through Sunday, but could benefit from a change of scenery.

St. Louis Cardinals utility player Tommy Edman, 29, hasn’t played this season because of a wrist injury, but is expected to begin a rehab assignment soon and could be back on the field before the All-Star break. He’s a former Gold Glove award winner (2021) who could also shift to multiple positions after Betts returns.

The Dodgers placed star rookie pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto on the injured list Sunday with a strained rotator cuff, furthering the Dodgers’ injury woes ahead of the trade deadline.

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has a history of being aggressive — and creative — at the deadline trying to plug holes on the team’s roster. Expect nothing less from Friedman in the weeks to come as the Dodgers attempt to rebound from their most serious injury blow this season.