Dodgers’ Betts dealing with illness in Japan, Roberts hopeful he’ll be ready for opening day

Shortstop Mookie Betts will miss the Los Angeles Dodgers’ two exhibition games in Japan because of an illness, manager Dave Roberts said Saturday.

Roberts said he’s still hopeful that the eight-time All-Star will be available for the team’s first regular season game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday at the Tokyo Dome. The Dodgers are playing the Yomiuri Giants and Hanshin Tigers — two teams from Japan — in exhibition games on Saturday and Sunday.

Roberts said the 32-year-old Betts started to feel flu-like symptoms during the team’s final day in Arizona, but team doctors said he was OK to make the long trip to Japan.

“Mookie is here today, but he’s been really sick,” Roberts said. “Lost some weight, so we’re trying to get him hydrated. He’s going to work out a little today, but he won’t be playing either tonight or tomorrow.

“Then when we have our off day, our workout day, we’ll see how he is.”

Betts is making the full-time transition to shortstop this season after playing most of his career in right field and second base. The 2018 AL MVP hit .289 with 19 homers and 75 RBIs last season, helping the Dodgers win the World Series.

The Fernando Valenzuela Story: Why One Dodgers Legend’s Impact Will Last Forever

Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher and broadcaster Fernando Valenzuela passed in October, but his legacy prevails to this day.

The Dodgers icon played 17 seasons in MLB from 1980-91 and 1993-97. Although he played for six different clubs, he spent the most time with the Dodgers.

In Los Angeles, he became the first player to win Rookie of the Year and a Cy Young in the same season.

Dodgers Nation’s Antonio Curiel highlights Valenzuela’s mural in Boyle Heights, where fans expressed how influential “Fernandomania” was for the city of Los Angeles.

Edward James Olmos, an actor and activist, detailed the history of Valenzuela’s impact on both the community and Dodgers organization.

“Fernando brought about a big change to this community,” Olmos told Curiel. “Before Fernando came to play, Chicanos especially would not go to the stadium because of what had happened in Chavez Ravine. He did an awful lot for the unification of the city.”

Valenzuela is credited with popularizing the game of baseball among Mexican-American fans. “El Toro” became a hero to many Latino fans and paved the way for other Mexican players to reach the majors.

For many Mexican fans, Valenzuela was the first familiar face they could follow with the Dodgers.

“I felt like he was part of the family,” said longtime Dodgers fan Juan Saldana.