Dodgers' Mookie Betts Says He Lost Nearly 20 Pounds Due to Illness

Los Angeles Dodgers star shortstop Mookie Betts was forced to miss the team's first two regular-season games against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome last week due to an illness, and it sounds like he will be looking svelte when he returns to the field.

Betts told reporters on Sunday that his stomach bug has caused him to lose 18 pounds, and his return remains uncertain while he's still feeling the effects of the illness:

Per the Associated Press, Betts explained that he feels like he's improving, but he's still having a hard time keeping solid foods down.

"I mean, I feel great," Betts said. "Like, my body feels great. I've been able to work out. I've been able to do pretty much everything but eat, which is strange. So, the symptoms have kind of gone away. I just have to figure out how to get my stomach to kind of calm down."

The 32-year-old added that all his blood work and other routine testing have been normal. However, he confirmed that he won't play in Monday's exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels, and he said he considers himself a long shot to be in the lineup against the Detroit Tigers for MLB's official Opening Day on Thursday.

"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. But no, I just want to play, man. I'm tired of sitting, tired of throwing up, tired of doing all this. I really just want to play."

The 2025 season will present a new challenge for Betts, as he will be transitioning to full-time shortstop after spending most of his career as a right fielder and second baseman. The eight-time All-Star will likely make the transition look easy, but he needs to be fully recovered from his illness to be at his best as the Dodgers begin their chase for their second straight World Series title.