It has been an arduous 2025 season for Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts. While Betts has come into his own as the Dodgers starting shortstop, he’s struggled to maintain the same caliber of greatness in the batter’s box this year.
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At the onset of the 2025 campaign, Betts endured a stomach illness that caused him to lose nearly 20 pounds. He missed the Dodgers’ two-game set against the Chicago Cubs at the Tokyo Dome to kick off the year and even flew home from Japan early in order to recover for the domestic home opener.
Betts returned to the Dodgers lineup without missing a beat, even hitting a walk-off home run despite being down almost 20 pounds. However, after a brief hot streak, the 32-year-old fell into a slump.
Almost half way through the season, Betts once again finds himself in another offensive blunder. The shortstop was sidelined by a fractured toe at the end of May, but returned to the Dodgers lineup with another hot two-week stretch.
Since then, Betts’ production has not been up to par as he was hitting as low as .162 in the last 10 games prior to the Dodgers’ sweep of the Colorado Rockies this week. Betts recorded his first multi-hit game since June 7 in the series opener with the Rockies.
Heading into Friday’s game against the Kansas City Royals, Betts is hitting .256 with a .335 on-base percentage and .392 slugging percentage. The Dodgers star is currently averaging career lows in all three offensive categories.
Despite Betts’ offensive struggles, manager Dave Roberts said he would not be moving the star out of the No. 2 spot in the lineup. Betts will eventually break out his slump, but when that will be remains a mystery.
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Photo Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
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5 Responses
I say move Betts to Leadoff, Plug un Shohei in next, then Will Smith followed by Freddie Freeman, then Teoscar Hernandez followed by Max Muncy, followed by Andy Pages, followed by Tommy Edman and then Michael Confort0. That gives you prtty much an alternating right-left batting order with Edman being able to switch as necessary. When Kim comes in for Cpnfort0 you can bat him last as a left hander and Edman can do whatever is best needed at the moment. That motivates Mookie to get on as the lead-off hitter, giving Shohei someone on base from the get go, He’ll still get roughly the same amount of bats as before and won’t have to wait until the line up cycles to have a chance for ribbies.
I think that’s a great call! Plus it makes sense according to the ideal batting order according to sabermetrics. Maybe that push to leadoff is what Mook needs
WE/VE SAID IT BEFORE AND WE’LL SAY IT AGAIN. RAG ARM MOOKIE BETTS IS NOT NOT NOT A SHORTSTOP!!! FREDDIE MADE A GREAT PLAY ON ANOTHER BETTS AWFUL, ONE HOP THROW IN THE DIRT, FOR A DOUBLE PLAY, THAT ALMOST WASN’T, TO SAVE BETTS & GIVE THE DODGERS A WIN, 5-4.
THERE’S NO DOUBT MOOKIE’S OFFENSE HAS SUFFERED; HE’s HITTING .250 AS HE CONTINUES TO ‘WANT’ TO PLAY A POSITION HE’S NOT SUITED FOR. HE SIMPLY DOESN’T HAVE THE TOOLS TO PLAY SS IN THE ‘BIGS,’ REALLY WELL.
AGAIN, STUBBORN MOOKIE IS NOT NOT NOT A NATURAL MLB SHORTSTOP, BUT IT’S A GUARANTEE, THE DODGERS WILL CONTINUE TO APPEASE HIM, AND LET HIM PLAY SHORT BECAUSE THE TEAM IS LOADED WITH TALENT, AND THEY CAN’T RUFFLE HIS FEATHERS.
TRUST US, ON A LESSER TEAM, HE WOULD PLAY WHERE HE SHOULD PLAY…WHERE BOSTON PUT HIM…RIGHT FIELD!
AS A RIGHT FIELDER, HE’S AN ALL STAR IN THE FIELD AND AT THE PLATE. AS A SHORTSTOP HE’S NEITHER.
THE MOVE TO SS COST THE DODGERS A WIN-WIN PLAYER WHO’S NOW BEEN REDUCED TO A LESSER, AVERAGE PLAYER. IT MAKES NO SENSE EXCEPT FOR LA TO CODDLE MOOKIE!
As much as I do not want to, I must agree with some of what you are saying. I am a fan of everything Mookie and he is undeniably an elite outfielder, short stop not so much. While I understand the benefits of player versatility (specifically to fill in gaps as they inevitably occur), ultimately a versatile position player should play where he has shown to be best-suited to play.
Agreed. Unfortunately, a change will not happen until a crucial game changing play or non-play at either shortstop or right field costs the Dodgers a game. Hoping this doesn’t happen in the playoffs. Even the metrics cannot hide that the defense would be stronger with a skilled shortstop at the position. The team must feel that the offense and hoped for healthy pitching staff can overcome this weird middle infield decision.