Mookie Betts is dealing with an illness that’s causing him to lose weight and miss important games, leaving fans uncertain about his status for the upcoming MLB Tokyo Series against the Chicago Cubs — the start of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2025 season.
Mookie Betts Loses Weight Due to Illness but Plans To Work Out
Manager Dave Roberts shared that Betts started showing flu-like symptoms on the last day in Arizona. Even though he was cleared by doctors to travel, his health took a turn for the worse once they got to Japan, which is why he won’t be in the exhibition game.
Roberts is optimistic that Betts will bounce back in time for the regular-season opener against the Cubs on March 18 at the Tokyo Dome.
In the postgame press conference, he said, “ So Mookie is here today — so he’s been really sick — lost some weight so we were so we were trying to get him hydrated and he’s going to workout a little bit today but he won’t be playing either tonight or tomorrow and then when we have our off day or workout day, we’ll kind of see how it is”.
Despite not feeling well, Betts was still able to make an appearance at the ballpark with his teammates.
Mookie Betts is at the ballpark today, though: https://t.co/aJq1WZ1mX0 pic.twitter.com/lML0FAOBse
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) March 15, 2025
The team is set to face off against the Hanshin Tigers on March 16, giving them more practice before the season kicks off.
Shohei Ohtani Smashes a 2-Run Homer in Front of 42,000 Fans in Tokyo
The Dodgers played their first exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants, using a bullpen game strategy and having Justin Wrobleski as the starting pitcher. The game started at 7 p.m. JST (3 a.m. PT).
Shohei Ohtani put on an impressive show during the Dodgers’ first exhibition game against the Yomiuri Giants in his native Japan by smashing a two-run homer into deep right field during the third inning. This moment thrilled the roughly 42,000 fans in the stands and proved Ohtani is more than ready for the upcoming season.
Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run Homerun in his return to Tokyo pic.twitter.com/KsKWmA7Dcr
— jay plemons (@jayplemons) March 15, 2025
The Dodgers turned up the heat in the third inning, starting with Michael Conforto’s solo home run. Ohtani then hit a two-run homer, stretching the lead to 4-0. Shortly after, Teoscar Hernández contributed with another solo blast, finishing off a five-run inning for the team.
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Roberts said, “It’s similar to the Metrodome back when I played in Minnesota very similar and just knowing that there’s going to be 46,000 people packed — we’re expecting a lot of noise and excitement”
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs are set to open the 2025 MLB season with two games at the Tokyo Dome on March 18 and 19.