Dodgers Coach Credits Miguel Rojas for Tutelage of Mookie Betts

The Dodgers surprised many this past off-season by shifting Mookie Betts from right field, where he had won six Gold Glove awards, to second base. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts made the announcement in December. Even more surprising was the announcement in March that Betts would not be playing second base this season after all.

Since moving to shortstop, Betts has had to make a number of adjustments on the fly. He’s had plenty of help.

Chief among them: Dodgers teammate Miguel Rojas, who was one of baseball’s best defensive shortstops last year in somewhat limited playing time. Rojas accrued six Outs Above Average, according to Statcast, more than making up for the injury absence of Gavin Lux – in the field, at least.

With Betts becoming the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop, Rojas is taking on more of a utility infielder role in 2024. He’s also taking on the role of mentor, helping Betts learn the finer points of shortstop before every game:

Meanwhile, one other man has benefitted tremendously from Rojas’ tutelage of Betts: Dodgers infielders coach Dino Ebel.

Ebel has been patiently hitting as many ground balls as Betts desires before each game, while also offering some pointers of his own. Of course, coaching is Ebel’s job. What can Rojas teach Betts that he can’t?

“This guy’s one of the best infielders in baseball,” Ebel told Dodgers Nation. “A player to player relationship where Mookie’s learning shortstop, having a mentor like that, I take full advantage of it. With his experience, his knowledge, he’s in the game now, he’s active. To help Mookie out like that, to help all our infielders, it’s tremendous on Rojas’ part to do that. And for Mookie observing everything Rojas is telling him which works for me. I might chip in here and there, but to me it means more when it’s player to player, especially when a guy has the credentials of Rojas on the defensive.”

Betts has accrued minus-1 OAA at shortstop through his first 13 games of 2024.

Photo Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

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