In a devastating blow to the Los Angeles Dodgers, star shortstop Mookie Betts has suffered a fracture in his left hand during Sunday's game against the Kansas City Royals. The injury occurred when Betts was hit by a 97.9 mph fastball from Dan Altavilla during the seventh inning.

Dodgers' manager Dave Roberts confirmed that Betts' fracture is in a bone in his left wrist but does not require surgery. However, there is still no specific timetable for his return, with Betts expected to be sidelined "for some time," according to Roberts.

This injury comes at a particularly unfortunate time for Betts, who has been having a stellar season, even being considered for the MVP title. "It's a big blow. I feel bad for Mookie because he's having an MVP-type season," lamented Roberts.

The impact of the pitch was clearly audible to those watching the game, both on television and in the lower deck at Dodger Stadium. Betts fell to the ground in agony, and trainers and Roberts rushed to his aid in the batter's box.

Prior to his exit from the game, Betts had gone 0-for-3, lowering his batting average to .304, placing him ninth in the majors. He had also been performing strongly in on-base percentage, ranking fourth at .405, and tied for fifth in hits with 86.

When asked about his plans for recovery, Betts expressed uncertainty while remaining hopeful. "I'm honestly not sure," he admitted. "Obviously, I'll be watching the boys and cheering them on. Other than that, just kind of rest, maybe use it as a mental break and be ready to go whenever it heals up."

With Betts sidelined, Miguel Rojas is expected to take on the majority of the playing time at shortstop, as confirmed by Roberts. The Dodgers will have to rely on their depth and resilience to overcome the absence of their star player.

As the team navigates Betts' absence, fans and the organization will be eagerly awaiting updates on his recovery, hoping for a swift return to the field for the talented shortstop.