Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Copyrighted by Sarah Morris, 2024
After having one of his best seasons in the major leagues, Mookie Betts wants to improve. He was second in the National League MVP just behind Ronald Acuña, Jr., of the Atlanta Braves. Since Betts didn’t have a hit during the NLDS against the Arizona Diamondbacks, many so-called Dodger fans think he was responsible for the playoff debacle.
Betts began playing infield a lot of time in the 2023 season out of necessity. When Gavin Lux tore two major ligaments in his knee during spring training, the Los Angeles Dodgers were short an infielder. Betts played shortstop while Miguel Rojas was on the IL.
Manager Dave Roberts rested the struggling rookie Miguel Vargas by playing Betts at second base. After the All-Star Game where Betts participated, Betts became the Dodger second baseman against right-handed pitching. The Dodgers demoted Vargas to Oklahoma City.
Playing second base gave Betts, 31, more rest than running from right field after every half inning, and it showed at the plate. In the 2023 season, Betts hit .307 (the eighth highest in the National League), 39 home runs (the seventh highest in the National League), 107 RBI (the sixth), and .987 OPS (the sixth).
After Betts won the National League Player of the Month for August, he slumped during September. Roberts thought Betts was chasing personal statistics in September, causing the slump, but Betts appeared tired in September and during the NLDS.
During the Winter Meetings, Roberts announced Betts would be the regular second baseman. Betts is excited about getting to play his natural position regularly. After another trip to Driveline, he is poised to have a big season.
With the addition of Shohei Ohtani, Betts should have another wonderful offensive season.
“Mookie cares,” Roberts said. “That’s why our guys respect him and like him and fans resonate with him. But I think as far as 2024 [goes], he looks great physically. He looked focused coming into camp, so I expect another great year from him.”
If Betts could duplicate last season’s offensive statistics, everyone with the Dodgers will be happy.
