ANAHEIM -- The Dodgers continue to take things day by day with Mookie Betts as he deals with an undiagnosed illness that has caused him to drop approximately 18 pounds in the span of two weeks. As of Monday, it appears the shortstop could finally be on the upswing.
Betts shared on Sunday that for nearly two weeks, he had been throwing up every time he ate solid foods and could tolerate only liquids, such as smoothies. He first noticed symptoms ahead of the Dodgers¡¯ Cactus League finale on March 11, and those persisted into the Dodgers¡¯ trip to Tokyo for their season-opening games against the Cubs. Betts said he has undergone blood work and vital tests that have all come back clean, and he had begun taking a new medication in an attempt to help quell the vomiting.
On Monday, Betts managed to get through a full day of workouts at Dodger Stadium in which he hit, took grounders and threw -- and, most important, was able to keep down solid foods, according to manager Dave Roberts.
¡°I do think that Mookie¡¯s turned a corner,¡± Roberts said ahead of the Dodgers¡¯ Freeway Series exhibition game at Angel Stadium. ¡°[I] talked to him, [and he] said he feels great on his way home and expects to play tomorrow. So right now, we're in a good spot.¡±
Betts¡¯ condition has caused him a great deal of frustration, in part because the worst of the symptoms has subsided and his body has felt good, in spite of the vomiting. But the weight loss is significant, as he¡¯s down to 157 pounds from the 175 he weighed at the start of Spring Training. Still, if he can play on Tuesday, then he could well be able to start in the domestic opener against the Tigers on Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
It¡¯s a situation the Dodgers continue to take one day at a time.
¡°It's just hard to fathom not eating and going to play a game,¡± Betts said on Sunday. ¡°So it looks like I'm just going to be light for a little bit. Maybe I play uphill a little bit for the beginning of the season. But no, I just want to play, man. I'm tired of sitting, tired of throwing up, tired of doing all this. I really just want to play.¡±
Freddie Freeman, who also missed the Tokyo Series due to left rib discomfort, was back in the lineup on Sunday for the exhibition series. He grounded out out softly twice and made four plays on defense with no issue. Freeman was replaced at first base by Kik¨¦ Hern¨¢ndez in the top of the fifth inning. He was back in the lineup on Monday.
¡°The last couple of days, he feels really good, doesn't feel anything,¡± Roberts said of Freeman on Sunday. ¡°But I do think that it's something we got to make sure we monitor. But he wouldn't be out there if we didn't feel confident that he's on his way back.¡±
Freeman was scratched from the Dodgers¡¯ first regular-season game against the Cubs at Tokyo Dome on Tuesday shortly before first pitch. He did not play on Wednesday, either. He first sustained the rib injury during the 2024 postseason, battling through it for an unforgettable World Series MVP performance.
¡°I know it was the last round of his batting practice for that first game [in the Tokyo Series],¡± said Roberts. ¡°The thought was it might be some scar tissue that was in there that just sort of broke up. And so just to kind of be cautious, we just felt that we should abort, which was a smart decision, I think.¡±
Losing multiple regulars would be a blow to any team, especially two with MVP pedigrees like Betts and Freeman. But the Dodgers managed to win their two Tokyo Series games without them. And while they certainly hope they won¡¯t be without either for most of the season, they know they¡¯re equipped to absorb the damage.
¡°Obviously, we've had a lot of great rosters, but this is the most talented roster,¡± said Roberts. ¡°... To see you lose two of your best players 48 hours before Opening Day and still kind of move forward is pretty remarkable. And to kind of keep guys sharp, relevant, to make sure I get those guys that are on the bench current, keep them relevant -- it¡¯s probably the most flexibility that we¡¯ve had.¡±