TORONTO — A day after going on the injured list with a right oblique strain, Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts on Monday sounded hugely encouraged about the progress he was already making, saying he was “light years ahead” of where he thought he’d be after suffering the injury Saturday afternoon.
“Honestly, I don’t even really notice that it hurts,” Betts said. “Much better spot than originally anticipated.”
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts throws to first for the out against Cleveland Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias during the fifth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Betts left Saturday’s game after feeling a “little grab” on his right side while running from first base to score on a Freddie Freeman double.
While the team initially described his injury as lower back pain, Betts said he wasn’t surprised that an MRI revealed it was an oblique issue instead.
Betts has past experience with oblique issues. While playing for the Boston Red Sox in 2018, he suffered a left oblique/abdominal strain that sidelined him for two weeks that year.
He said this week’s injury feels far less severe –– and is hopeful his timeline to return will therefore be quicker.
“That (injury happened) on a swing, so I knew that was much worse than this,” he said.
Betts had gotten off to a slow start statistically this season, hitting just .179 before his injury.
However, he seemed to still be making progress coming off a career-worst offensive season in 2025. He already had two home runs, and was making more consistent hard contact with a swing he tried to “re-wire” in the offseason.
Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates with teammates after scoring in the first inning against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) Getty Images The Dodgers are hopeful Betts’ absence won’t derail that progress, with manager Dave Roberts echoing that the team expects him to return “sooner than later.”
In 2018, Betts’ oblique injury hardly seemed to hamper him once he returned.
He won the American League MVP Award that year, and helped the Red Sox defeat the Dodgers in the World Series.
When reminded of that Monday, the 33-year-old smiled.
“Yeah,” he said with a laugh. “So we’ll see how it goes this time.”
