Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Continuing to Learn From Mistakes at Shortstop
Mookie Betts won’t back down from a challenge.
As the end of spring training neared, the Dodgers struggled to find consistent defensive play from Gavin Lux at shortstop. According to Jack Harris of the Los Angeles Times, Betts didn’t outwardly ask to move to the position. He didn’t push the club for a radical infield change. However, he let the team know he would play wherever they felt best.
Betts hadn’t played shortstop since high school and knew the transition would be difficult, but he embraced the challenge and viewed the move as a necessary obligation to help the team win.
“It’s just a lot of responsibility out here,” Betts said this weekend.
For almost an hour before Saturday’s game, Betts practiced fielding balls that he had been struggling to handle. Rep after rep, he worked on hard ground balls to his right. He even experimented with scooping the ball with his palm facing upward and trying to smooth out a backhand, planting his feet, and making a good throw to first base.
Betts knows he won’t be perfect with his transition to shortstop, but when he has questions or needs help, he turns to infield coach Dino Ebel and teammate Miguel Rojas.
“The key thing is that he’s understanding what his strengths are, and the things he needs to work on. He’s doing this for the best of the team. To fix our problems, give flexibility to the organization and put our players in position to succeed.”
— Miguel Rojas via the Los Angeles Times
His switch to shortstop came less than two weeks before the start of the regular season. While he does make mistakes, he tries to not let it get to him.
“I’m out there [messing] up all day. But when you get in the game, you just try to put it all together. That’s what makes it fun. Making mistakes and learning from them.”
— Mookie Betts via the Los Angeles Times
By the end of Saturday’s game, Betts’ hard work paid off. On all three ground balls to his right, he converted the play with ease: Backhanding a firm bouncer from Brandon Crawford in the third, retiring Nolan Arenado on a long throw in the fourth, then limiting damage in the 10th by getting at least one out at first base on a slow roller with the infield in.
All three plays are expected to be made by any other shortstop in the league. With each play Betts makes, the Dodgers can count it as a step in the right direction.
“I was actually really proud of myself today making those plays, give myself a nice pat on the back,” Betts told reporters after Saturday’s game. “May go have a milkshake tonight because I did it.”
Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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