Dodgers Team News

Dodgers: Mookie Betts Expects No Further Trouble from Balky Hip

Last season was far from ideal for Mookie Betts. The 2018 AL MVP battled through back, forearm, and hip injuries in 2022. The injuries took their toll – Betts slashed .264/.367/.487 in 122 regular season games. Those stats would be pretty good for most, but not for Mookie. 

Of all the injuries that plagued Mookie last year, the bone spurs on his hip were the most significant. So much so, that the outfielder spent time on the IL and got a cortisone shot due to the injury.



According to the LA Times Jack Harris, Betts doesn’t believe the hip will be an issue this season and didn’t feel the need to get it checked out prior to spring training. 

“Things have been smooth. It’s been pretty normal. So no need.”

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also thinks that Betts’ hip is in a much better place than last season.

“I haven’t seen him certainly push himself yet. But I’m just kind of going by the training staff and his word where he just feels normal. As we kind of get more into baseball activity, I think we’ll know more. But right now, compared to where he was at times last year, where he just was injured and didn’t feel well … he’s far from that.”

Mookie Betts’ 2021 By the Numbers

Mookie’s .854 OPS and .487 slugging percentage last year were both his lowest since his 2017 season. Another piece of empirical evidence of just how challenging the season was for Betts is that he also recorded a new career high in strikeout percentage (15.6%). It was a season to forget all around.

Final Thoughts

When healthy, Betts is one of the best players in baseball. There’s a reason team president Andrew Friedman signed him to a 12-year, $365M deal. At his best, Betts can help lead a team to a World Series title. There’s evidence of that, it’s happened not once, but twice. If Betts can stay healthy, he should have a great chance at winning a third championship.

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Eric Eulau

Born and raised in Ventura, not "Ven-CH-ura", California. Favorite Dodger Stadium food is the old school chocolate malt with the wooden spoon. Host of the Dodgers Nation 3 Up, 3 Down Podcast.

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