"Mookie Betts is expected to return in 4 to 6 weeks"
Los Angeles Dodgers' Kim Hye-seong joined the Dodgers' roster while the team is on an East Coast road trip and was added to the major league roster.
The Dodgers will play an away game against the Washington Nationals in Washington, D.C., on the 6th (KST). Ahead of the game, the Dodgers placed Mookie Betts on the injured list and called up Kim Hye-seong from Triple-A Oklahoma City (Oklahoma City Dodgers).
Manager Dave Roberts informed local reporters of Betts' injury status before the game. Betts drew a walk in the top of the first inning in the game against Washington on the 5th and was replaced by Miguel Rojas in the bottom of the first for defense. The Dodgers said, "He was replaced because of lower back pain."
Roberts said, "(Yesterday) Betts felt some discomfort in his side while taking a checked swing in the on-deck circle, but he felt the pain more severely while running to score on Freeman's double."
Betts underwent an MRI and was placed on the injured list with a right oblique strain. Roberts estimated Betts' return at "about 4 to 6 weeks, but likely shorter than that." He added that "Miguel Rojas and Kim Hye-seong will alternate at shortstop."
The Dodgers announced the starting lineup against Washington as Shohei Ohtani (designated hitter), Miguel Rojas (shortstop), Teoscar Hernández (left field), Freddie Freeman (first base), Andy Pages (center field), Alex Call (right field), Santiago Espinal (third base), Dalton Rushing (catcher) and Alex Verdugo (second base). The starting pitcher is Roki Sasaki.
With Mookie Betts injured, the Dodgers hurriedly summoned Kim Hye-seong to Washington. Kim, who had been playing for the Dodgers' Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers, was scheduled to play on the 5th against the Triple-A Las Vegas Aviators (Oakland Athletics' affiliate) but was removed from the starting lineup just before the game and immediately flew to Washington. Dodgers-related media reported, "With the Dodgers' star Mookie Betts injured, Kim Hye-seong is on the verge of joining the roster."
Kim Hye-seong hit .346 with 2 RBIs, 4 walks, an on-base percentage of .438, slugging .385 and an OPS of .823 in six Triple-A games.
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