Los Angeles, CA – Just days before the Los Angeles Dodgers’ home opener against the Detroit Tigers, scheduled for Thursday, March 27, 2025, the health of star shortstop Mookie Betts has morphed into an alarming enigma that has the team and fans on edge. Speaking to reporters after being scratched from Sunday night’s Freeway Series game against the Angels, Betts revealed he’s down to 157 pounds—nearly 20 pounds lighter than his usual playing weight—due to an undiagnosed stomach ailment that began just before the team’s trip to Japan. The condition has prevented him from keeping solid food down, leaving the eight-time All-Star visibly frustrated and vulnerable.
“I’m tired of sitting, tired of throwing up, tired of doing all this. I just really want to play,” Betts said via Dodger Insider on X, formerly Twitter, after being pulled from the lineup less than two hours before first pitch on Sunday. Betts was slated to start at shortstop but was sidelined by yet another bout of vomiting. Despite feeling physically strong otherwise, he admitted the constant nausea and inability to eat have left him “scared to eat.”
“My body’s just kind of eating itself,” he added. “It’s hard to not fuel it. And so every time—literally, every time—I fuel my body, I throw up. … I don’t know what to do.”
The ailment kicked off before the Tokyo Series against the Cubs on March 18 and 19, an event that made jaw-dropping MLB history for its magnitude. Betts hasn’t played since March 11, and while he’s been able to work out and keep fluids down, the uncertainty surrounding his condition has drained him mentally. “It’s just hard to fathom not eating and going to play a game,” Betts said. “So it looks like I’m just going to be light for a little bit. Maybe I play uphill a little bit for the beginning of the season.”
Medical tests, including bloodwork and vitals, have all come back normal, deepening the mystery. Team doctors, led by renowned Dr. Neal ElAttrache, recently prescribed a new medication to calm his stomach, though Betts didn’t disclose specifics. Additional testing is expected in the coming days, with his status for Thursday’s opener in doubt. “We don’t want to rush him,” ElAttrache told the Los Angeles Times. “Dehydration can lead to muscle injuries, and pushing a player too soon at this stage can result in extended absences.”
Betts, 32, is a cornerstone for the Dodgers, who are coming off a 2024 season with 98 wins and a National League pennant, though they fell to the Mets in the NLCS. His 2024 transition to shortstop—after years as a right fielder—was a triumph, boasting a .290 average, 19 home runs, and stout defense. But this illness threatens his availability for a team also featuring Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, both projected to dominate awards in 2025 per Bleacher Report. Betts’s absence could force adjustments, with Miguel Rojas or a prospect like Gavin Lux stepping in at shortstop.
Fans on X are worried. “Mookie losing 20 pounds from this is terrifying—get well soon,” one wrote, while another quipped, “157 pounds? He’s gonna blow away in the Dodger Stadium wind!” Teammates offered support too: Ohtani, via translator, told Dodgers Nation, “Mookie’s our leader—we hope to see him back soon.” Manager Dave Roberts, post-Angels game, stayed optimistic but cautious: “He’s strong, but we need answers.”
The Dodgers’ medical staff is taking a conservative approach, aware that rushing Betts back could cost him months—a risk unacceptable for a team with World Series aspirations after placing third in an MLB.com poll of potential winners, behind the Red Sox and Phillies. Meanwhile, Betts tries to stay positive. “I’m scared, but I’m still here, working,” he said. “I just want to be me again.”
As further tests and Thursday’s opener approach, Betts’s weight loss and medical red flags loom over Los Angeles. The mystery of his health has the Dodgers and their faithful holding their breath, hoping their star can overcome this ordeal and return to the diamond. Stay tuned—this story is far from over.
