Dodgers News: In 2023, Mookie Betts Finally Feels He’s Where He Belongs
If you’ve seen Mookie Betts play mostly any time in his career, you’ll have seen him patrolling right field, playing Gold Glove caliber defense for two of the most historic franchise in MLB in the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Most recently though, injuries have necessitated Betts’ move to the infield on occasion, and he’s proven to be more than capable on the dirt, providing a sense of stability that the Dodgers desperately needed in their climb back to the top of the NL West.
It’s not a complete shock that Betts is playing as well as he’s been when manning second base or shortstop. He’s one of the premier athletes in the sport, with a jump quick enough that would make Rickey Henderson proud.
A lesser known fact is that he briefly played second base when he was called up to the major leagues in 2014. The then-21-year-old was soon jettisoned off to contend with Fenway Park’s Pesky Pole in right field, in a position that he would call home as he grew into one of the top outfielders in the MLB.
So the move back to the infield is a homecoming of sorts for Betts, and he seems right at home where he is.
“I’ve never considered myself a right fielder,” Betts said. “I just play right field. I’ve always considered myself a middle infielder.”
per Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times
Of course, LA has never had a shortage of reliable middle infielders over his three-and-a-half seasons in LA, and that’s kept him confined to the outfield grass. But that’s something that the seven-time All Star understands.
“I get why,” Betts said. “We had Corey [Seager], we had Trea [Turner], we had [Gavin] Lux. We had other infielders. That’s cool. I wasn’t tripping. Plus they pay me to be an outfielder. I could have been an infielder my whole career. But it didn’t work out that way.”
per Jorge Castillo
That said, Betts has somewhat famously taken part in pregame infield drills while he’s been a Dodger, always prepared to help his team out there if it was ever needed.
And now that he’s gone back to his roots, he’s doing just fine closer to the action this season.
Was he given this opportunity on an emergency basis? Yes. But that emergency may turn into a more permanent role for him in Los Angeles.
Mookie Betts would be just fine with that. And if he keeps producing like he has been up the middle, so will his team.
Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Have you subscribed to our YouTube Channel yet? Subscribe and hit that notification bell to stay up to date on all the latest Dodgers news, rumors, interviews, live streams, and more!
