LA Dodgers star Mookie Betts “scared to eat” after losing over 20 pounds through mysterious illness

Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts has lost over 20 pounds after being diagnosed with a mysterious illness.

LA Dodgers star Mookie Betts “scared to eat” after losing over 20 pounds through mysterious illness

Mookie Betts (Image via X/@MLB)

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts is going through a torrid time. After missing the season opener in Japan, the 3-time World Series winner’s participation in the traditional opener on Thursday hangs in the balance. On Sunday, he provided an update regarding his health and informed that he’s “scared to eat” after losing over 20 pounds through this mysterious illness.

Betts was initially supposed to start in the shortstop position for the Dodgers against the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series last week. However, two days before the plane left for Japan, he was feeling uncomfortable and started throwing up.

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He was then ruled out of the season opener. Things have not changed for him since coming back to the United States. The shortstop was named in the Dodgers’ team for the game against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. He was later taken out of the match as a “late scratch“.

As per the 32-year-old, he weighed 175 pounds before he left the Spring Training camp. After two weeks of dealing with this mysterious illness, he has lost around 20 pounds.

It’s hard to just not eat, you know, especially come you can’t come to work and just not eat… Literally every time I fuel my body I throw it up… I’m scared to eat. So I don’t really know what what to do.

Mookie Betts told the reporters as per SportsNet LA

The surprising thing in this is that the blood tests for Betts have come back as normal. It is the stomach that has been causing him issues for the past few days. Betts admitted that he would have played the game on Sunday had he not thrown up.

Dave Roberts provides positive update regarding Mookie Betts

After Mookie Betts initially came down with an illness, it did not seem too scary at first to many. However, after losing over 20 pounds of weight, the concern among fans has risen. On Monday though, there was some positive update regarding him from his manager Dave Roberts.

Dave Roberts and Mookie Betts
Dave Roberts and Mookie Betts (Image via Imago)

During the press conference on Monday, the Los Angeles Dodgers manager claimed that Betts was able to go through a full day of workout. However, the most important thing was that he was able to keep some solid foods down. Since he went down with this illness, he was only able to take fluids.

I do think that Mookie’s turned a corner. [I] talked to him, [and he] said he feels great on his way home and expects to play tomorrow. So right now, we are in a good spot.

Dave Roberts told the reporters as per MLB.com

Betts is now scheduled to take part in the final exhibition game against the Angels on Tuesday. If things go as planned, he could be part of home opener against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.

Before this illness, Betts took part in 11 Spring Training games this season. During this, he had 25 plate appearances and batted with a .240 average while having 6 hits, 1 home run, and 3 RBIs.

Blake Snell named as starter for LA Dodgers home opener against Tigers

After Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki stole the show in the Tokyo Series, the attention now turns towards the other starting pitchers of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Newly acquired star Blake Snell, will take to the mound on Thursday as he has been named as the starter for the home opener against the Detroit Tigers.

Blake Snell
Blake Snell (Image via True Blue LA)

This was something that was likely to happen after the two Japanese pitchers got the nod to open the season in their home country. Snell took part in one of the exhibition games. In that, he struck out 7 of the 18 batters he went up against. He though also gave up 3 runs.

He has also struggled in the spring training as well. In the two games he started, he gave up 4 runs through 6 hits. He thus has a 0-1 record with a 7.71 ERA.

As per Dodgers Insider, Yamamoto and Sasaki will then follow up Snell in the other two games of the series against the Tigers. After a Sunday off, Tyler Glasnow and Dustin May are expected to take the mound against the Atlanta Braves.