Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts is at risk of missing the team’s opening series in Tokyo, Japan against the Chicago Cubs.
Betts has been dealing with an illness this week, and was forced to miss the Dodgers’ last two Cactus League games before they left for Japan.
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While Betts traveled to Japan with the team for the Tokyo Series, he’s still under the weather, and has “lost some weight,” according to manager Dave Roberts.
Now, Betts has just a few days to get back to full strength ahead of the team’s March 18 opener against the Cubs, and Roberts told reporters Saturday that he’s very much a question mark for Opening Day.
Betts is going to go through a work out, and then the team will reevaluate him on Monday’s off day ahead of Tuesday’s first game. Betts isn’t going to play in either of the two exhibition matches the Dodgers are playing in Japan.
Betts, 32, is the Dodgers’ No. 2 hitter and starting shortstop.
The six-time Gold Glove award winner in right field is making the full time transition to shortstop this year, despite being one of the games best defensive outfielders.
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Betts knew the move to shortstop would help the Dodgers build a better team, and after struggling to make the transition on short notice last year, he’s set out to prove people wrong this year.
“This is not like a vengeance tour,” Betts said to USA TODAY Sports earlier this spring. “It’s about proving a lot of people wrong. But more than anything, it’s about proving myself right.”
However, proving people wrong wasn’t the main factor in the decision.
“You hear noise, you see noise, you get people asking you why you’re doing this and all this other stuff,” Betts said this spring. “I’m not oblivious to it. That’s not the driving force. The driving force is to win. I feel like this is something that we talked about that would help us win. I’m just doing that.”
As Betts completes the transition to shortstop — the hardest position on the field outside of catcher — his health is especially important.
Thus, if he’s not 100 percent or close to it, it’s hard to imagine him suiting up for either of the games.
If Betts isn’t able to play, the Dodgers have plenty of contingency plans.
Miguel Rojas can replace Betts at shortstop and in the lineup. Moreover, Tommy Edman can slide over from second base to shortstop, and someone like Kiké Hernández can take over at second to get his bat in the lineup.
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