Mookie Betts doing first in Dodgers career before potential return

"Mookie Betts is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday and also be in their lineup the following night in games against the Salt Lake Bees (Los Angeles Angels affiliate). Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated earlier in the week that Betts was potentially nearing the start of a rehab assignment. He first was expected to participate in a simulated game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday."

"The rehab assignment is going to be first for the four-time MVP since he played in one game at the Double-A level in 2015. Mookie Betts' timeline for return Betts has been on the 10-day injured list since April 5 because of a right oblique strain he sustained while running the bases. The recovery process was been up and down during various points, which can be expected with an oblique strain."

"After experiencing some lingering soreness when taking swings and easing up on his level of activity, Betts said last week he felt as though he "turned a corner" in the recovery process. According to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, Betts' rehab assignment might only last two games. Mookie Betts' return to the Los Angeles Dodgers could come as soon as Monday, a league source told The Athletic, just more than four weeks after the shortstop and former MVP strained his oblique."

"Roberts said at the time of Betts suffering his injury that he believed a return would come before the general timetable of four to six weeks for an oblique strain. Should the Dodgers activate Betts off the injured list, that would mark exactly five weeks from the date he was put on the IL."

Mookie Betts is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Friday and play in the lineup the next night against the Salt Lake Bees. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously said Betts was nearing the start of a rehab assignment and first expected him to participate in a simulated game at Dodger Stadium on Thursday. The rehab assignment would be Betts’ first since playing one Double-A game in 2015. Betts has been on the 10-day injured list since April 5 with a right oblique strain. Recovery included periods of soreness and reduced activity, but he later said he “turned a corner.” The rehab might last only two games, with a potential return to Los Angeles as soon as Monday, about five weeks after the injury.

Read at Dodger Blue