Mookie Betts exited the Boston Red Sox' Monday night game against the Kansas City Royals in the seventh inning after suffering an apparent leg injury.
Betts was up to bat when he fouled a ball off his left ankle. Betts went down to first base but after a long flyout by Rafael Devers, Betts was checked on by the team's trainer. Though he remained in the contest and would come around to score, Betts didn't return to the field for the top of the eighth inning.
According to Jason Mastrodonato of The Boston Herald, Betts is dealing with a shin contusion and he is expected to be day-to-day.
In a game that the Red Sox were already winning by a score of 7-2 at the time of Betts' departure, it's likely that Boston is just playing it safe with their star. They have no reason to put him on the field and risk his long-term health.
Betts was replaced in the Sox' lineup by Brock Holt. Holt entered the game to play second base which prompted Michael Chavis to move to first, Sam Travis to move to left, Andrew Benintendi to shift over to center, and Jackie Bradley Jr. to move over to right field.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora gave an encouraging update on Betts following the 7-5 win.
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“He fouled one off (his leg)," Cora said. "You saw him running the bases, he didn’t look good. I just saw him down there, he should be OK for tomorrow.”
Betts wasn't the only Red Sox star to deal with an injury on Monday. J.D. Martinez was supposed to start as the Sox' DH, but he was a late scratch after dealing with back tightness.
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