If all goes well, the Los Angeles Dodgers are close to getting back their All-Star shortstop Mookie Betts. He is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment on Saturday at the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, the team announced. Betts will appear in back-to-back games. It is unclear at this point how long the shortstop will need to ramp up before the team reactivates him to the major league roster. However, the Dodgers hope the rehab outing is brief, and there are no unexpected setbacks.
Dodgers Shortstop Mookie Betts Begins Rehab Assignment on Saturday
Recovery Takes Time
Betts exited the game in the first inning at the Minnesota Twins after running the bases in the first inning. Initial reports suggested a lower back injury. However, it was later diagnosed as an oblique injury. Thankfully, they caught it early, but the four-time World Champion has still missed more than a month.
BREAKING: Eight-time All-Star, four-time World Series champ and former MVP Mookie Betts is scheduled to play for the Comets Friday & Saturday as part of a Major League Rehab Assignment!
(Note: Scheduled rehab assignments are subject to change.) pic.twitter.com/ihauVeAsHH
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) May 7, 2026
A Blip in Time
Oblique injuries have tricky recovery periods. As such, the Dodgers have been careful in their prognostications. The veteran has been doing running and fielding drills on the field for a week or more with no issues. But taking batting practice has been another challenge. Betts still felt a twinge or two while in the cage. Nevertheless, the Dodgers were optimistic that it wasn’t that much of a setback. It looks like their diagnosis was correct.
Not a Stranger to Injury
This is the second year in a row that Betts has been sidelined early in the season. Last year, he missed the season-opening Tokyo Series due to an illness that caused severe weight loss. Betts made major strides with the glove at shortstop. However, he struggled offensively for the majority of 2025. The perennial All-Star was nearly 30 points below his career average in batting average last year. It looked like he was finding his power stroke shortly before he was injured.
For the Dodgers’ part, they are hoping that their Gold Glove Finalist will bring his bat when he returns. Their billion-dollar lineup has struggled to find its power groove lately in their latest losing skid. Whatever happens, Betts’ physical presence in the lineup will be a confidence boost.
Main Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
