Dodgers famous person Mookie Betts moved from proper area to a center infield function earlier than touchdown on the injured listing attributable to a left hand fracture in June. He’s set to return from the IL on Monday however can be moved again to proper area, per supervisor Dave Roberts. Juan Toribio of MLB.com was amongst these to relay the information on X.
Roberts defined that he and Betts had a dialog concerning the choice, citing Betts’ consolation degree in addition to the improved efficiency of Gavin Lux as a part of the reasoning. J.P. Hoornstra of Dodgers Nation relayed video of the feedback on X.
“Every participant, wherever they’re taking part in, they’ve obtained to really feel most assured,” Roberts stated. “And you need to then, clearly, layer in what’s finest for the ball membership. And I feel that, the place we’re at, he’s most assured, proper now, in proper area versus at shortstop. And so, you take a look at how Gavin’s taking part in and he’s earned the best to proceed to play second base for us.” Betts stated the dialog was principally mutual, per Invoice Plunkett of the Orange County Register on X, saying that “you need to be actual with your self” and that he simply desires to win.
Betts performed loads of second base as a prospect within the Crimson Sox’ system however was blocked by Dustin Pedroia and was moved to proper area. He then spent nearly all of the previous decade turning into one of many higher gamers within the sport, profitable Gold Gloves in proper whereas additionally hitting at an elite degree, profitable American League MVP in 2018.
He continued serving as a wonderful proper fielder after being traded to the Dodgers however did often toy together with his outdated spot on the keystone. He obtained into one sport there in 2020 after which seven video games in each 2021 and 2022. Final 12 months, the experiment took off a bit extra meaningfully. Because of some accidents to different gamers, Betts finally completed 2023 with simply over 700 innings in proper area but additionally 485 at second base and 98 at shortstop, his first main league innings on the shortstop place.
The Dodgers had been clearly happy by the work Betts did there as a result of, in December, Roberts declared him the membership’s on a regular basis second baseman. Lux was deliberate to be the first shortstop however he struggled together with his throws in Spring Coaching and the membership determined in the primary week of March to flip him and Betts.
It was a reasonably unprecedented state of affairs for Betts to aim to turn into an on a regular basis shortstop on a membership with World Sequence aspirations throughout his age-31 season, however he didn’t appear fazed by it. He slashed .304/.405/.488 in 72 video games for a 155 wRC+ earlier than his harm. The evaluations on the glovework had been blended, as he was credited with 4 Defensive Runs Saved however -5 Outs Above Common. However for him to be even satisfactory at what is taken into account to be the game’s most demanding place with so little expertise and at this stage of his profession was a testomony to his unbelievable athleticism.
However with out Betts for roughly the previous two months, the image has modified. As Roberts alluded to, Lux has caught hearth on the plate. He was hitting simply .207/.263/.282 by way of July 7 however has put up a monster slash of .377/.450/.638 since then.
The Dodgers may have put Betts again at shortstop subsequent to Lux however it appears they like to roll with the duo of Miguel Rojas and Nick Ahmed there. Each are wonderful defenders who haven’t hit a lot of their careers, however Rojas is having a good season with a .270/.314/.403 batting line and 103 wRC+. The membership additionally acquired Tommy Edman previous to the deadline and could have him round as an alternative choice however he’s principally going to be taking part in heart area, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic on X.
The outfield combine has been a bit extra shaky this 12 months, with guys like James Outman, Enrique Hernández and Chris Taylor having tough years. The Dodgers acquired Kevin Kiermaier from the Blue Jays previous to the deadline, however he’s additionally having a troublesome 12 months on the plate. Betts is a powerful defender in proper, 132 Defensive Runs Saved and 54 Outs Above Common in his profession, however his transfer could be extra about bumping these guys out of the lineup in favor of Rojas. The truth that the Dodgers even had that option to make illustrates the worth of Betts and why golf equipment crave versatility normally.
As soon as Betts is able to be reinstated, he needs to be an on a regular basis participant in proper because the membership has Shohei Ohtani within the designated hitter spot. Teoscar Hernández can be in left area whereas Andy Pages, Jason Heyward, Edman and Kiermaier additionally decide up a while.
Although the Dodgers as soon as had a nine-game lead within the Nationwide League West, it has tightened of late, thanks to some stumbles from the Dodgers and a few robust play elsewhere. The Padres are simply 2.5 video games again and the Diamondbacks are only one sport behind the Friars, 3.5 video games again of the Dodgers. Even the Giants are simply eight video games off the division lead at this level. The Dodgers’ roster remains to be robust and returning Betts will clearly be a assist, although the membership is making an attempt to make use of its flexibility to optimize issues for the stretch run.
