Dodgers’ Mookie Betts Says His Wife Helped Him Prepare for Transition to Shortstop
Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts spent the offseason training to make the unprecedented transition from right field to shortstop.
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After winning six Gold Glove awards as an elite right fielder, Betts is onto the next challenge of his already prolific career. The Dodgers moved Betts to back to right field once he returned from the injured list last season, but after winning his third championship in October, the 32-year-old went straight to work.
Some of Betts’ offseason work included a trip to Texas to work with five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winning shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
“I couldn’t believe the strides that he made,” Tulowitzki said. “I say to do something, and it’s pretty much done in a day or two. And then once he went home, he would send me video back, and I’m like, ‘Yeah, that’s it, man.’ Talk about a pretty easy guy to work with. He’s special.
“I wouldn’t say this for anybody else that’s just spent however many years in the outfield and then go to the infield. But I can truly tell you, I think he can be an elite defender at the position — which is just crazy to say.”
Beyond training with a Gold Glove shortstop, Betts continued his nonstop training this winter with the help of his closest neighbor, Brianna Betts.
“Sometimes my wife was rolling me ground balls … I would throw a ball against a wall for an hour if I didn’t have anything else to do,” Betts said.
The start of the 2025 season for Betts began with a stomach virus that caused him to lose nearly 20 pounds and miss the Tokyo Series. However, Betts has proven that there isn’t really much he can’t do as he’s hit multiple home runs underweight, including a walk-off three-run homer.
While there has not been a position change like the one he is making in recent baseball history, if anyone were to succeed at the difficult task, it would be Betts.
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Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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