Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts returned from a 14-game absence Monday in Baltimore and jumped right back into the swing of things, despite the lack of a rehab stint.
Betts, who was sidelined with a left abdomen strain, was expected to make a rehab assignment before rejoining the club. His manager Alex Cora said the two discussed the possibility, but the outfielder felt he was ready to return.
"[Betts] told me, 'I'm healthy. I have no doubts. I'm good. At this point, I don't know if A-ball is going to help me with my swing,'" Cora said Thursday during his weekly interview with the Dale & Keefe show. "And I agree. I was like, 'Yeah man, if you're healthy you can get your time in at the big leagues. You're that talented.'"
Betts went 1-for-5 in his return to the lineup Monday while knocking in a run. The 25-year-old went on to hit home run No. 18 of the season Wednesday, his first since returning from injury.
Betts was leading the American League in a number of categories before his injury but his manager believes he's shown promise that he'll pick up right where he left off.
"You can see the swings that he took [Wednesday], he's almost there," Cora said. "And not because he hit the homer but there was a lot of conviction behind his swings. So he's in a good spot, we trust him."
Betts had the day off Tuesday before returning to the lineup again Wednesday in Baltimore. Cora explained that he's ready to play back-to-back games, and he'll play three out of the four games in Seattle this weekend.
"It all depends on how the games go, but most likely [he'll get] Sunday off," Cora said. "That way he gets two days off, Sunday-Monday, but from Tuesday on he's a regular player."
Following are more highlights from the interview. For more Red Sox news, visit the team page.
On Chris Sale's ejection Wednesday: "We felt there were some pitches that we thought were strikes and the umpire thought were balls. I think it started in the second inning, he made some good pitches, and there was a fastball up and away and a backdoor slider that we didn't get the call on. It was just building up. I have no issues with that."
On Dustin Pedroia's health: "He still has inflammation. We're staying away from baseball activities. I just saw him earlier today with his family around so that's a good sign. We'll see when I get to the ballpark where he's at, he's been doing a lot in the weight room but as of now we're staying away from baseball stuff because the inflammation is still there."
On Rafael Devers: "If he gets hot with the way other guys are swinging the bat, it's going to be fun. He's a guy that everybody knows his potential, everybody knows that he's 21, and there's a learning curve. But he's here at the big league level and we have to be patient."
