Dodgers' Betts goes on IL after hand fractured by HBP

Los Angeles Dodgers superstar shortstop Mookie Betts fractured a bone in his left hand after getting hit by a pitch in Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals.

The Dodgers placed Betts on the injured list and recalled Miguel Vargas on Monday, the team announced.

"It's a big blow," manager Dave Roberts said postgame Sunday. "I feel really bad for Mookie. He was obviously having an MVP-type season. It's very unfortunate. You gotta move on, and that's what we're going to do."

Roberts added: "It was a fracture. I don't have a timeline. It was the left hand. I think it was the metacarpal. It's going to be time. It's broke. I just don't know what that means (for a timeline). No surgery. It's just going to be rest and let the bones heal."

Betts was removed from the contest after a 98-mph fastball from reliever Dan Altavilla struck his hand in the seventh inning.

"I'm not sure. I'm honestly not sure," Betts said when asked what's next for him, according to Dodger Insider. "Obviously, I'll be watching the boys and cheering them on. Other than that, just kind of rest, maybe use it as a mental break, and be ready to go whenever it heals up."

Royals manager Matt Quatraro acknowledged that Altavilla hit Betts accidentally.

"Clearly no intent. ... It's very unfortunate. I feel terribly. No one wants to see that, especially to a guy like Mookie, who we all revere for his professionalism and what he means to the game," Quatraro said, per Anne Rogers of MLB.com.

Miguel Rojas replaced Betts as a pinch runner and defensively in the field. Roberts said the former will get most of the playing time at short while the latter is out, according to Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register.

Betts, the 2023 NL MVP runner-up, is slashing .304/.405/.488 with 10 homers, 40 RBIs, and nine stolen bases over 72 games for the NL West-leading Dodgers.