Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has been ruled out of the two-game Tokyo Series, manager Dave Roberts said Monday.
Per Roberts, Betts has lost ‘close to 15 pounds’ due to the illness. The manager added that Betts could fly back to the United States before the team does in an effort to be ready for the domestic opener against the Detroit Tigers on March 27.
‘He’s not going to play in these two games,’ Roberts said. ‘The thing is when you lose a lot of weight, when you’re dehydrated, that’s what opens a person up to soft-tissue injuries. We’re very mindful of that.
‘So to take the next week, call it, to build him back up, his strength, do some baseball activities to get ready for the home opener.’
Miguel Rojas likely will start at shortstop in place of Betts for the Dodgers, who face the Cubs on both Tuesday and Wednesday.
Betts reportedly started suffering from flu-like symptoms at the team’s spring training home in Arizona, the day before the team left for Japan.
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has been ruled out of the two-game Tokyo Series
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts revealed that the shortstop had dropped 15 pounds
The 32-year-old still made the near 12-hour flight to the Japanese capital but any hopes of playing at the Tokyo Dome were dashed when he failed to recover in time to play.
The eight-time All-Star is said to have tried to go through a workout on Sunday, but became tired quickly.
Betts also missed exhibition games on Saturday against the Yomiuri Giants and Sunday against the Hanshin Tigers.
Betts is entering his sixth season with the Dodgers. He batted .289 with 19 homers and 75 RBIs in 116 games last season when the Dodgers won the World Series.
