The Los Angeles Dodgers have been missing Gold Glove shortstop Mookie Betts since April 4. The four-time World Series champion has been out with a right oblique strain but recently played two rehab games with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Apr 10, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) looks on from the dugout steps during the game against the Texas Rangers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
In his most recent rehab game on Saturday, Betts played six innings at shortstop and went 1-for-2 at the plate.
Now, Betts will reportedly return to Los Angeles on Sunday. If he does not have any lingering soreness, the Dodgers will activate Betts in time for the series opener against the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium, per The Athletic’s Katie Woo.
Mookie Betts will travel back to LA tomorrow (Sunday). Assuming there is no lingering soreness, the Dodgers will look to activate him Monday ahead of a four-game set against the Giants. https://t.co/x7UbwcWbrv
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) May 10, 2026
Before suffering the oblique strain, Betts slashed .179/.281/.429 with a .710 OPS and two home runs across eight games. In his two rehab games, he went 2-for-5, walking once and striking out twice.
What Does Betts’ Return Mean For the Dodgers?
Betts’ return is a big boost for the Dodgers, as he is a key piece to the starting lineup. But his return also means the Dodgers will need to make a roster move to make space Betts.
Some of the franchise’s options are to option Alex Freeland to Triple-A, option Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A or designate Santiago Espinal for assignment. It seems like the most likely choice for the Dodgers will be to designate Espinal for assignment.
But when utility Kiké Hernández returns from the IL in late May, the Dodgers will again have to make a difficult roster decision. Therefore, Espinal may be the obvious choice now, but Freeland and Kim will continue to battle to keep their spot on the roster when Hernández returns.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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