WATCH: Mookie Betts takes fielding drills at shortstop as  Dodgers superstar nears his return to the lineup

Mookie Betts is set to return to action on August 12 after he suffered a fractured left hand, which has kept him on the IL for almost two months. The Los Angeles Dodgers superstar is nearing a complete recovery, and he was seen taking fielding practice at shortstop on Monday.

MLB Network posted a short video clip on their official profile on X.

The footage shows Mookie Betts taking fielding drills for turning double plays. Betts fielded a couple of groundballs while moving to his right before throwing them to the second baseman. The 31-year-old looked quite smooth with his movement and showed no visible discomfort from the injury.

Interestingly, Betts was wearing a shirt bearing the name and number of his teammate Freddie Freeman, who was set to make his return to the lineup on Monday. Freeman was away from the team since late July after his three-year-old son Maximus was diagnosed with a rare neurological disease. He was released from the hospital on Sunday and is expected to make a full recovery.

The Dodgers have struggled to perform close to their potential without Betts on the team. They lead the National League West with a 65-47 record, although their huge advantage has dwindled down to less than five games during his absence.

Mookie Betts seems indispensable for the Dodgers this season

Mookie Betts is set to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup on August 12 (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

Despite having a star-studded lineup, the Los Angeles Dodgers seem to struggle without the all-around contribution of Mookie Betts. Prior to his injury on June 16, the eight-time All-Star was having an outstanding campaign as he was batting .304/.405/.488 with 10 home runs, 40 RBIs, and an OPS+ of 153 in the leadoff spot.

The Dodgers were cruising a couple of months ago, but they are presently going through a challenging period. However, the team has been devastated by injuries, both to its batting lineup as well as its pitching staff. As a result, they ended the month of July with an 11-13 record.

Mookie Betts had shifted from the outfield to the shortstop position at the start of the season to provide better balance to the lineup, and the Dodgers were not really able to fill the void after his injury. They were active during the trade deadline after bringing in Kevin Kiermaier, Amed Rosario, and Nick Ahmed to the squad. While these players are elite defenders, they cannot match the offensive output of Betts.