{"id":664013,"date":"2026-05-12T07:51:27","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T07:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/664013\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T07:51:27","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T07:51:27","slug":"mookie-betts-rejoins-dodgers-after-five-weeks-on-il","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/664013\/","title":{"rendered":"Mookie Betts rejoins Dodgers after five weeks on IL"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts<\/a> was activated off the injured list Monday, ending a five-week absence predicated by an oblique strain.<\/p>\n

The Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> slotted Betts into his customary No. 2 spot, sandwiched between Shohei Ohtani<\/a> and Freddie Freeman<\/a>, with the hope he could help jump-start a sluggish offense. Betts is staying realistic.<\/p>\n

“I’m not the hero,” he said prior to the start of a four-game series against the division-rival San Francisco Giants<\/a>. “It’s going to take us all.”<\/p>\n

Betts managed a hit in five at bats Monday night, and the Dodgers were quieted again, falling 9-3<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Dodgers now sit at 24-17, a half-game behind the first-placeSan Diego Padres<\/a>in the National League West. They are 4-6 when scoring three runs or less in seven of 10 games in May. Will Smith<\/a>, Teoscar Hernandez<\/a> and, most notably, Ohtani have all struggled this month.<\/p>\n

Betts, 33, began the season just 5-for-28, then came back after playing in just two rehab games. The Dodgers aren’t quite sure what to expect.<\/p>\n

“I think with Mookie, you just don’t know,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Monday’s game. “So, the hope is that he can kind of hit the ground running.”<\/p>\n

Betts’ activation prompted the Dodgers to send down infield prospect Alex Freeland<\/a>, who slashed just .235\/.309\/.337. Roberts called the move “a tough one” but noted that Hyeseong Kim<\/a> outplayed him, slashing .289\/.353\/.395. As a left-handed hitter, Kim can platoon with the right-handed-hitting Miguel Rojas<\/a> at second base. Veteran Santiago Espinal<\/a>, who is out of options, will continue to serve as a backup, allowing Freeland to get more development time in Triple-A.<\/p>\n

Betts will ease into regular playing time, getting a day off on Wednesday and then perhaps another on Saturday, but the expectation is that he will play shortstop on an everyday basis thereafter.<\/p>\n

The Dodgers initially hoped Betts would be back a couple of weeks sooner. Betts said the delay was not caused by a setback.<\/p>\n

“I just didn’t really realize how long it takes for it to really heal,” he added. “I felt pretty good pretty fast, actually, but just some of the movements that I couldn’t do, they kind of just lingered for a long time. I was trying to hurry, but obviously doctors are like, ‘It just takes this long for it to heal.'”br\/]<\/p>\n

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