DALLAS — When Dodgers basic supervisor Brandon Gomes introduced in early November that Mookie Betts would transfer again to the center infield in 2025, the workforce was nonetheless mulling over whether or not he would play second base or shortstop — a choice that was doubtless contingent on any strikes Los Angeles was contemplating to improve the infield.
By the point the Winter Conferences started on Monday, Gomes had a solution: Betts is getting ready to be the Dodgers’ beginning shortstop going ahead.
“He is prepared for the problem,” Gomes stated. “He looks like, with a full offseason, he can go and sort out that. Like we have stated earlier than, he is one of many guys that I definitely would not guess towards.”
It is acquainted territory for the six-time Gold Glove Award winner in proper area: Betts started Spring Coaching in 2024 anticipating to maneuver to second base. However following Gavin Lux’s defensive struggles to start out the spring, Betts as an alternative shifted over and have become Los Angeles’ on a regular basis shortstop coming into the common season.
Betts remained at shortstop till he fractured his left hand on June 16. When he returned almost two months later, Betts was initially anticipated to renew his shortstop duties, however supervisor Dave Roberts reversed course and as an alternative moved Betts again to proper area.
Miguel Rojas dealt with the vast majority of the shortstop reps down the stretch earlier than Commerce Deadline acquisition and NL Championship Collection MVP Tommy Edman took over the beginning job for a lot of the postseason.
The Dodgers worth versatility of their bench bats, however they sometimes do not count on the identical of their superstars. They don’t seem to be planning on transferring Betts round, that means that Edman will see most of his enjoying time in middle area.
“Proper now, because the roster is sort of the place it is at, [it] continues to offer us lots of flexibility,” Roberts stated. “It is a simple guess to guess on him with the total offseason. … Clearly, there’s some issues that may change, however all the boldness in Mookie.”
Final season, Betts gained momentum at shortstop because the video games went on, trying extra pure on the place over time till the harm halted his progress. It did not come simply, although, as Betts made 9 errors in 531 1/3 innings at shortstop, having explicit bother with throwing.
Betts has a powerful, correct arm; it is a large a part of why he is a embellished proper fielder. However as a result of he spent so a few years enjoying the outfield, he is now extra accustomed to throwing at completely different distances and angles.
“These issues which can be most difficult to show — getting off the ball, vary, making distinctive performs, his pre-pitch timing: He nailed these,” Gomes stated. “It is actually synching up his throw from that, as a result of he is been so used to the outfield throw. I believe that’ll be the vast majority of his work, ensuring … how does he entry what’s an elite arm, and have that translate to the infield.”
The Dodgers are assured that with a full offseason and Spring Coaching to hone his craft at shortstop, Betts will be capable to play the place at a excessive degree. And realizing the Dodgers’ famous person, he will not simply accept satisfactory: He desires to be elite.
Above all, Betts desires to win, and he’ll do what makes probably the most sense for his workforce. On this situation, the Dodgers get his MVP-caliber bat within the infield combine whereas liberating themselves as much as doubtlessly add an affect bat within the nook outfield, even after agreeing to a one-year cope with Michael Conforto.
“We had conversations [when Betts moved back to right field in 2024], identical to, ‘Hey, this isn’t lifeless perpetually. Let’s go win a World Collection after which we’ll have the dialog,'” Gomes stated. “Mook, as we noticed early final yr, all he cares about is profitable. [He’s] as selfless of a famous person as I’ve ever seen in my life.”
