Mookie Betts Injury: Updates on Red Sox Star's Back and Return

Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts returned to the lineup after missing two games. 

Continue for updates.

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Betts Batting 8th, Playing in CF

Monday, June 15

Gordon Edes of ESPN.com confirmed Betts' return to the lineup in the No. 8 slot.

On June 12, Edes reported that Betts had sprained his back on this play:

Betts moved from second base to the outfield last season and has served primarily as Boston's starting center fielder in 2015. The transition has been seamless defensively, but not everything has gone so smoothly.

Although the 22-year-old shows five-tool tendencies as a great fielder with speed and pop, he's been plagued by inconsistency at the plate.

He is a hot-and-cold, streaky hitter and in result has been moved all around the lineup, from the leadoff spot or No. 2 to No. 7 or No. 8.

Red Sox assistant hitting coach Victor Rodriguez chalked Betts' struggles up to a somewhat flawed approach at the dish, according to Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal:

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What I'm seeing is a guy that is not ready to hit -- and because he's not ready, he finds himself late and not ready to react. He's late. He's getting his pitch, and he’s not able to do anything with it. He's reacting late and losing the barrel of the bat and hitting a lot of fly balls. That's not him. He’s a line-drive guy.

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It is tough for any hitter to find a rhythm when he is constantly being shifted around, but it's hard to blame manager John Farrell for changing things up in order to spark his team.

With that said, Betts has also had to contend with a ton of competition in the outfield over the course of the season, with Rusney Castillo, Brock Holt, Shane Victorino and Alejandro De Aza all vying for playing time, while Hanley Ramirez has manned left field as well.

Not much has gone right for Boston this season, and Betts' return is a step toward turning things around.

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