Should the Dodgers Be Worried About Mookie Betts’ Struggles at Shortstop?

Just a few weeks ago, the Dodgers decided Mookie Betts would move from second base to take on the challenge of playing the shortstop position. It was an abrupt move six games into the exhibition season, and it’s the second time Betts has changed primary positions since the end of last season.

Gavin Lux’s defensive deficiencies at shortstop might have forced the move, but Betts has taken on the new role with open arms. So far, the transition hasn’t gone quite as smoothly as he or the team might have hoped.

No matter how athletic Betts is, moving positions isn’t the easiest move to master in a short amount of time. Betts hasn’t played too much shortstop, but the Dodgers are betting heavily on his ability to navigate the position well.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts spoke with the media, including our own Noah Camras, to give his thoughts on Betts after the final exhibition game against the Los Angeles Angels.

“That first one was a really well hit ball, stayed down on him, couldn’t come up with it. And the other ball, just didn’t make the play on it. So, it’s a work in progress. We knew what we were getting into. This is a guy that really hasn’t played a whole lot of shortstop, but he’s putting his work in and we’re gonna bet on him.”

— Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

This isn’t the first time one of Betts’ superiors has given him a vote of confidence this month. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said that he wouldn’t bet against Betts when it came to playing shortstop.

Betts clearly has the confidence of the organization, plenty of room to recover from his mistakes, and hopefully he will get better with time. Everything is still fairly new to him at the moment.

“I think it’s just one of those things where he’s got to continue to get repetitions. Ball to his right, ball to his left … there are a lot of plays that he hasn’t seen yet that he’s going to see and have different chances. I’m just glad it happened now, and he’s only going to get better with repetitions.”

— Dodgers manager Dave Roberts

If Betts isn’t able to improve, Los Angeles will have to pivot. They have kept tabs on shortstop Willy Adames of the Milwaukee Brewers, even while Milwaukee isn’t ready to trade its best players.

The Dodgers have the prospect capital to make a deal happen. For the sake of the season, the front office might need to make one. Los Angeles enters the year on World Series or bust expectations after a strong offseason, so the clock is ticking on how wide the margin of error will be at the shortstop position.

Photo Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

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