Dodgers' Mookie Betts fractures left hand when hit by pitch - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts broke his left hand when he was hit by a pitch during the seventh inning of Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals.

The former MVP and seven-time All-Star was drilled in the hand by a 97.9 mph fastball from Dan Altavilla and fell to the ground, writhing in extreme pain. Manager Dave Roberts didn't know how much time Betts would miss but said the injury would not require surgery.

Betts made an appearance in the clubhouse after the Dodgers' 3-0 victory with his left hand wrapped. He will see Dr. Steven Shin, a hand specialist, on Monday.

«I think that's the first time I got hit in the hand so I wasn't sure,» Betts said when asked if he knew immediately the hand was broken. «I just went numb and it hurt. Unfortunately, it's broke. There's [nothing] we can really do now.

»Just kind of up and in. I was holding my ground. Unfortunately, it hit me in the hand."

Betts went 0-for-3 Sunday to drop his batting average to .304, ninth in the majors. He was fourth in on-base percentage (.405) and tied for fifth in hits (86).

«It's a big blow,» Roberts said. «I feel bad for Mookie because he's having an MVP-type season.»

The pitch hit Betts at the top of the hand, and trainers and Roberts quickly raced out of the dugout to tend to him. Those watching on television and in the lower deck at Dodger Stadium could clearly hear the ball making contact with Betts' hand.

«You never want your guys to get hit. But just by his reaction, I felt that this was different,» Roberts said.

Altavilla told MLB.com he was trying to go inside but that the fastball «slipped arm-side» and that there was «absolutely no intent.»

«We're trying to get Dan some innings and see how he can do here,» Royals manager