Mookie Betts starts rehab assignment with Oklahoma City

TL;DR

Mookie Betts is beginning a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, playing games on Friday and Saturday. This comes five weeks after he strained his right oblique, and he is expected to return to the Dodgers soon.

Key points

Mookie Betts starts a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City
He will play for the Comets on Friday and Saturday
Betts strained his right oblique five weeks ago
Kiké Hernández is also on a rehab assignment with Oklahoma City
A roster move will be necessary when Betts returns

Mookie BettsLos Angeles DodgersOklahoma City CometsKiké Hernández

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers warms up before the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images Mookie Betts is starting a minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, and will play for the Comets on Friday and Saturday, the team announced on Thursday. Saturday marks the five-week mark since Betts strained his right oblique. Kiké Hernández is already with Oklahoma City and has played two games so far for the Comets, manning third base on Tuesday and on Thursday, five innings in each game. Hernández is on the 60-day injured list and can’t be activated until May 24 at the earliest, so his rehab will last a little while. Betts is likely a more immediate return, health permitting of course. When he missed two months in 2024 after breaking his hand, Betts didn’t play in any rehab games at all before getting activated. Betts hasn’t played in a minor league game since August 9, 2015 for the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs while on the injured list with the , and that rehab assignment lasted all of one game. The Dodgers have been deliberate with his rehab, backing off various drills or batting practice depending on how his oblique responded. That he’s ready to play in rehab games suggests he’s turned a corner. “There’s no magic formula to this. You can do as much rehab as you want. Obliques just take time, it’s always four to six weeks, no matter however you want to twist it,” Betts said at Dodger Stadium last week. “We’re close, and after that it’s going to get a lot better.” With Betts out, has taken the lion’s share of playing time, starting 22 games at shortstop with starting seven times. has remained at second base, , and do date has started 29 of 37 games at the position this season, with Rojas starting at second base five times and three times. When Betts gets activated, someone on the roster has to go, with likely another roster move needed in two and a half weeks or so when Hernández is ready to go. But for now let’s focus on the near term. Freeland and Kim can be optioned to the minors. Espinal, who has also started three times at third base, has over five years of service time and cannot be sent to the minors without his consent, so he’d need to be designated for assignment if the team wants to move on. Here’s how they’ve done do date:

Q&A

When will Mookie Betts return to the Dodgers?

Mookie Betts is expected to return to the Dodgers soon after completing his rehab assignment, depending on his health.

What injury did Mookie Betts suffer?

Mookie Betts strained his right oblique, which has kept him out of play for several weeks.

How long has Mookie Betts been on the injured list?

Mookie Betts has been on the injured list for five weeks since his oblique injury.

Which Dodgers player might be removed from the roster when Betts returns?

A player from the Dodgers' active roster will need to be jettisoned when Mookie Betts is activated, likely one of the current infielders.

Mookie Betts starts rehab assignment with Oklahoma City

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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