2 days ago
Dodgers' Mookie Betts Addresses Mystery Injury That Cost Him Series vs. Yankees
Dodgers' Mookie Betts Addresses Mystery Injury That Cost Him Series vs. Yankees originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Los Angeles Dodgers' Mookie Betts did not land on the injured list, but his brief absence still raised plenty of eyebrows.
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Right before a marquee matchup against the New York Yankees, Los Angeles found itself down another star. First, Freddie Freeman slipped in the shower. Then, Betts was suddenly unavailable. The timing was Brutal. The reasoning is even more bizarre.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) celebrates after he scored a run against the Athletics during the first inning of the game at Dodger Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
Betts finally addressed the incident on his podcast, On Base with Mookie Betts, alongside guest Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, and offered a surprisingly practical takeaway.
'Always bring a flashlight when you're walking in the dark,' Betts said. 'People stub their toes all the time. On beds, on walls, and usually, it's no big deal. But this time, it did real damage.'
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The former MVP recounted the moment with painful clarity — that eerie beat before the pain kicks in, the wave of regret, the knowledge that this wasn't just a stub.
'I remember the seconds right after it happened,' he said. 'It didn't hurt right away, but when it did, I knew it was a bad one.'
Luckily, Betts avoided a stint on the injured list and returned to the field in less than a week, suiting up for Tuesday's game against the New York Mets. He did not miss a beat, going 2-for-5 with two RBIs in his first game back. He followed it up with a 0-for-4 performance in Wednesday's 6-1 loss versus New York.
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Whether the toe continues to nag him is still unclear, but if Betts keeps performing like Tuesday's outing, the Dodgers will not hesitate to keep him in the lineup. Even slightly limited, he remains one of their most important players — just maybe one who now double-checks the lights at night.
Related: Dodgers Trade Idea Involves Acquiring Red Sox's Jarren Duran for Top Prospects
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
