Dodgers Infielder Mookie Betts’ Versatility is Getting Overlooked Again
The Dodgers’ do-everything leadoff hitter, Mookie Betts, is swinging the hottest bat in baseball again. And it’s not the first time he’s been here in the course of 11 major league seasons.
The Dodgers have only played five regular-season games entering Sunday’s series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals, but the numbers are staggering. Betts is hitting .611 with a .720 on-base percentage, 1.389 slugging percentage, four homers and 10 RBIs.
Teammate Shohei Ohtani isn’t the only one being mentioned in the same sentence as Babe Ruth these days.
Betts did something else noteworthy during the St. Louis series. He started Thursday’s game at shortstop and finished it at second base. He was a second baseman again on Friday, and a shortstop Saturday.
Although he might not see any playing time in right field again, Betts is reminding fans why he finished as the runner-up to Ronald Acuña Jr. in National League MVP voting last year. He’s not just baseball’s best hitter, he’s one of its most versatile fielders, as well.
Maybe those two things are related. Asked Friday if Betts could have unlocked something on offense last year by locking in his defense at three different positions, manager Dave Roberts wouldn’t rule it out.
“You look at his track record, he’s been pretty good offensively in his tenure here. To that end, when he came in and played second base last year, could that have helped the focus more to then lead to offensive performance? Maybe. I just think right now it’s too short of a time to make that judgment.”
— Dodgers manager Dave Roberts
Although Betts remains the Dodgers’ primary shortstop, Roberts noted “there will be times” Betts plays second base in place of Gavin Lux, who was moved off the shortstop position early in spring training. In those instances, Miguel Rojas will play shortstop, as was the case Friday.
The 2024 season might not see Betts move around the field as often as he did a year ago, but it will serve as a reminder of his often-overlooked versatility.
Photo Credit: Jonathan Hui-USA TODAY Sports
Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, livestreams, and more!
