Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Provides Exciting Update on Playing Shortstop in 2025
The Mookie Betts experiment at shortstop is going to make a return during spring training.
The Los Angeles Dodgers remain confident that Betts will be their Opening Day shortstop, expecting that an offseason of work with new first-base coach Chris Woodward will lead to defensive improvements — something difficult to achieve during his brief stint at the position last season.
“I feel like I’m just a completely new person out there,” Betts said of his work at the position this winter during Dodger Fest on Saturday.
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes made Betts’ move back to the infield official during the Winter Meetings, announcing Betts was going to be given an opportunity at the position again.
“He’s ready for the challenge,” Gomes said. “He feels like, with a full offseason, he can go and tackle that. Like we’ve said before, he’s one of the guys that I certainly wouldn’t bet against.”
Betts, a six-time Gold Glove winner in right field, transitioned to second base during spring training last year, then shifted to shortstop to start the season before returning to right field on Aug. 12 after recovering from a fractured hand.
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He started 61 games at shortstop, committing nine errors — eight on throws. The Dodgers believe that with more experience and a full offseason to prepare, he can thrive defensively at the position.
“I think with Mook what was most impressive, if you look at all of the most challenging parts of the position, he does really well. And where he struggled was throwing,” Gomes said. “You go watch him in right field it’s one of the best arms in the game. It’s incredibly accurate.
“So those things that are most challenging to teach — getting off the ball, range, making exceptional plays, his pre-pitch timing — he nailed those. It was really syncing up his throw from that because he’s been so used to the outfield throw. So I think that’ll be the majority of his work is how does he access what is an elite arm and have that translate to the infield.”
With Betts penciled in at short, Tommy Edman will play more center field. Hyeseong Kim will most likely play second base and Miguel Rojas will return to his utility backup role. The same goes for Chris Taylor.
More news: Mookie Betts Calls Joining Dodgers ‘Best Thing That’s Ever Happened’ in His Life
Photo Credit: Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters via USA TODAY Sports
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As a person who played at shortstop in softball for over 15 years, I can tell you that the main problem for someone just learning the position is that you have to learn to throw FROM MANY DIFFERENT ANGLES. Where are you in relation 1b? Do you get to the ball in the hole, only after charging the ball, or high above second base? How many times the ball bounces before reaching you. So where you place your feet just before throwing. The speed of the baserunner. These can all affect your arm angle as you prepare to throw, as you unleash it, and how you follow through.