Mookie Betts to Miss Tokyo Series Due to Mystery Illness
Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts won’t be making the trip to Japan after all.
Manager Dave Roberts announced that Betts will miss both games of the upcoming Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs due to an unspecified illness that has caused him to lose nearly 15 pounds.
The team is considering sending their star player home early to recover in more familiar surroundings.
Despite the concerning weight loss, Roberts assured fans that Betts’ condition isn’t believed to be contagious, and he’s expected to be ready for the Dodgers’ stateside opener against the Detroit Tigers on March 27.
Betts, 32, is coming off another stellar season for the World Series champions. He hit .289 with 19 homers and 16 stolen bases in 116 games last year.
What makes Betts truly special is his remarkable versatility. The natural outfielder made the stunning transition to shortstop last season—something almost unheard of for a player in his thirties.
Veteran Miguel Rojas will likely fill in at shortstop while Betts recovers.
The Dodgers aren’t just resting on their championship laurels. After winning 98 games and claiming the World Series title last season, they’ve gotten even stronger.
This winter, they landed two of the most sought-after pitchers on the market in Blake Snell and Japanese sensation Roki Sasaki. They also brought back slugger Teoscar Hernández and bolstered their bullpen with Kirby Yates and Tanner Scott.
Even without Betts, the Tokyo Series promises plenty of excitement for early-rising baseball fans. The action kicks off Tuesday at 6 a.m. ET with a showcase of Japanese talent as Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the mound for the Dodgers against Cubs starter Shota Imanaga.
