Wednesday, April 3, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
I have followed the Los Angeles Dodgers since 1977, and I haven’t witnessed a start to the season like Mookie Betts has had. He is a notoriously slow starter, and he has endured two position changes since the last game in the 2023 season.
Since Betts has been a Dodger, he has led the Dodgers to victories. If Betts slumps, the Dodgers usually lose. If he is hot, the Dodgers usually win. So far in the 2024 season, the Dodgers have 6 wins and 2 losses.
If Gavin Lux didn’t have a season-ending knee injury in the 2023 season and Miguel Vargas performed as expected, the Dodgers wouldn’t have allowed Betts to play in the infield. When the Dodgers gave up on Vargas at the 2023 All-Star break, Betts played second base against right-handed pitchers. He played well at second base.
Betts rarely voices his opinions about how he can help the Dodgers, but he has stated he prefers to play an infield position. This past winter meetings Dave Roberts announced Betts would be their everyday second baseman. This offseason, he worked hard to succeed at second base and a goal to win a Gold Glove at second base.
During spring training, Lux had severe defensive problems at shortstop. The Dodgers couldn’t go with Lux at shortstop but had a fantastic offensive spring training. They didn’t want to lose Lux’s bat. During the 2022 season, he played an average second base. The Dodgers decided to swap Lux and Betts.
While Betts hadn’t played shortstop since high school, he accepted the challenge. Every day, he has been taking early practice to improve his defense.
So far this season, Betts has a .500 batting average with 5 home runs and 11 RBI. Defensively, he has been brilliant at a new position.
