Mookie Betts to Hit Leadoff for Dodgers in 2024, Says Dave Roberts

Mookie Betts may be changing positions, but he won’t be moving in the Dodgers lineup.

On Friday, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced to reporters — including Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain — that Betts would be the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter in 2024. Roberts declined to name who would follow him in the lineup between Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani.

“The safe bet I’ve got is that Mookie is going to hit leadoff,” Roberts said. “That’s a really safe bet.”

Betts exclusively played as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter in 2023, starting all 151 games from the top spot in the lineup.

Betts had a historic season from the leadoff spot, hitting 39 home runs and driving in 107 RBIs while hitting .306 with an OPS of .987.

While it wouldn’t have made much sense to move Betts from that spot, Roberts could have elected to leadoff someone like Ohtani, so he wouldn’t have back-to-back lefties in the two- and three-holes.

However, Roberts knows what he got out of Betts as the Dodgers’ full-time leadoff hitter in 2023, and he’s banking on a similar season in 2024.

Mookie Betts All-In on Second Base

As for the defense, Betts’ alignment will be a little different than it was in 2023.

Betts, who appeared in 107 games in right field last year and 70 at second base, is going to see drastically different numbers this year. There’s a chance he rarely sees the outfield.

“If we’re going out there, it’s with an infield glove and infield cleats,” Betts said after leaving the Dodgers’ eventual 14-1 defeat of San Diego in the Cactus League opener. “I’m all in. You have to dive all the way in to be the best you can be.”

Betts said he didn’t bring his right field glove or cleats to spring training with him. That says everything you need to know about his mindset this spring.

Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports