Dodgers broadcaster Joe Davis said it best:

“Oh. No. No, no, no, no, no!”

Those were the first words from the popular SportsNet LA broadcaster, as 31-year-old Dodgers future Hall of Fame infielder/outfielder Mookie Betts immediately dropped to the ground after being hit on his left hand with a 98-MPH slider thrown by 31-year-old Kansas City Royals right-handed reliever Dan Altavilla on a 1-2 count with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning on Sunday afternoon in front of a sold out Dodger Stadium crowd of 52,789.

“No, I didn’t know. I mean, it’s probably the first time I’ve… I think that’s the first time I got hit in the hand, so, I wasn’t sure,” Betts answered, when asked if he knew he had broken his hand. “I just went numb and it hurt. And so, unfortunately, it’s broke. Nothing we can really do now.

“I’m not sure, I’m honestly not sure,” Betts answered, when asked how long he thinks he might be out. “Obviously, I’ll be watching the boys, cheering ’em on, but other than that, just kind of rest, maybe use it as a mental break, and be ready to go whenever it heals up.”

Betts is the first batter Altavilla has hit this season and only the fourth of his seven-year MLB career. It was also the first time Betts has been hit by a pitch this season and the 48th time over his 11-year MLB career.

“It’s a big blow, it is,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said postgame of losing arguably the best player in the game today. “I feel really bad for Mookie. He was obviously having an MVP-type season. It’s very unfortunate, you know, you gotta move on, and that’s what we’re gonna do. But, yeah, it’s more of… for me, it’s more for Mookie personally. We’re gonna be fine, you know. We have real good players, and we gotta move on, but it’s more Mookie. My sentiment goes more towards him.”

Although the Dodgers won Sunday’s game by a score of 3-0 to take two of three from the American League Central second-place Royals, it came at an enormous cost.

Play Ball!

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