Mookie Betts returned to the Dodgers’ lineup on Monday night, and he homered in the team’s 5-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
Betts went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a stolen base after missing nearly two months with a fractured left hand.
The former American League MVP was activated from the disabled list prior to the game.
Los Angeles designated infielder/outfielder Amed Rosario for assignment in a similar action.
Betts began the season batting leadoff and playing shortstop and second base, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts implemented his new strategy on Monday: Betts moved to right field and batted second in the lineup after Shohei Ohtani.
Betts, 31, was hit by a fastball on his left hand on June 16 against the Kansas City Royals and placed on the injured list the following day.
Prior to his injury, he was batting.304 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs in 72 games this season. Betts was named to his eighth All-Star Game a few weeks after suffering the injury.
Betts is for life.In 1,338 games, batter 295 had 263 home runs, 363 doubles, 799 RBIs, and 182 stolen bases. He earned the American League MVP award in 2018 while playing for the Boston Red Sox and was second in the National League MVP voting previous year.
Rosario, 28, has just started his second season with the Dodgers after the Tampa Bay Rays dealt him to Los Angeles before the trade deadline.
Rosario, who played 48 games for the Dodgers last year, appeared in five games this month and hit 3-for-11 (.273) with a double and two RBIs.
The New York Mets (2017-20), Cleveland (2021-23), Dodgers, and Tampa Bay veteran has a.275 career batting average, 62 home runs, 157 doubles, and 362 RBIs in 920 games.
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