Dodgers Rumors: Will Smith Contract Extension Includes Signing Bonus & Deferrals

Will Smith, Dodgers workout, 2024 Spring Training

The Los Angeles Dodgers locked up a key member of their core on the eve of the Dodger Stadium home opener, signing Will Smith to a 10-year, $140 million contract extension.

The deal presumably came together quickly as Smith said during Spring Training that the team had not approached him about signing a long-term extension this year.

Smith, who celebrates his 29th birthday on Thursday, was poised to become a free agent after the 2025 season. He now has the opportunity to potentially finish his career with the organization that selected him in the first round of the 2016 MLB Draft.

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, Smith’s contract extension with the Dodgers includes a $30 million signing bonus and $50 million in deferrals that will be paid out annually between 2034-2043.

Smith’s contract deferrals align with the $680 million that L.A. will pay Shohei Ohtani from 2034-2043 as part of the record-setting 10-year, $700 million deal he signed during the offseason.

Smith is coming off an All-Star season that saw him hit .261/.359/.438 with 21 doubles, 19 home runs and 76 RBI. He finished fourth among all MLB catchers in batting average, third in runs scored (80), fifth in home runs, tied for sixth in extra-base hits (42), seventh in total bases (203), fourth in RBI and third in slugging percentage.

Since making his MLB debut on May 28, 2019, Smith is among the Major League catcher leaders in OPS (first), homers (second), hits (fourth), runs (second), extra-base hits (third), total bases (third) and RBI (second).

Will Smith joins Mookie Betts

Smith’s contract extension is reminiscent of the Dodgers signing Mookie Betts to a 12-year, $365 million deal before Opening Day of the 2020 season. Like Smith, Betts was on track to become a free agent but is now a big part of the team’s future.

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Dodgers News: Shohei Ohtani Wanted To Avoid ‘Distractions’ With Marriage Announcement

Shohei Ohtani, 2024 Spring Training

As the Los Angeles Dodgers were going through their final stretch of Spring Training, Shohei Ohtani announced on Instagram that he is married.

The news caught the Dodgers organization by surprise and led to an increase of media attention at Camelback Ranch. Ohtani initially shared few details as to who his wife is but explained why he made the announcement in the middle of Spring Training.

“I felt like it was good timing because it was before the season,” Ohtani said through then-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. “I didn’t want any distractions when the season started.

“And I would have liked to announce it earlier, but there was some paperwork issues that lagged the whole process. So that was the whole deal.”

It later became known that Ohtani got married to Mamiko Tanaka, a former Japanese basketball player. Her identity was revealed when Ohtani shared a photo of the couple boarding the Dodgers’ flight to South Korea.

While Ohtani had good intentions with revealing his marriage during the spring, he nevertheless has become part of off-the-field headlines.

That began due to Mizuhara’s illegal gambling activity and purportedly using a bank account under Ohtani’s name to pay off Southern California bookmaker Mathew Bowyer, who is under federal investigation.

The Dodgers immediately fired Mizuhara once his sports betting came to light, and this week Ohtani accused his former interpreter of lying and stealing.

Ohtani emphatically stated he has never bet on baseball or any other sports, and that Mizuhara’s gambling was unknown to him until after the interpreter addressed the Dodgers clubhouse on Opening Day.

Ohtani’s press conference was attended by Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten, chief marketing officer Lon Rosen, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Brandon Gomes, manager Dave Roberts, and teammates Kiké Hernández and Joe Kelly.

Shohei Ohtani focused on Dodgers

As part of his prepared statement when addressing the situation with Mizuhara, Ohtani said he hoped his comments would help answer questions and that he was looking forward to the Dodgers resuming their schedule with the Dodger Stadium opener.

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Tyler Glasnow Recalls Memories Of Watching Clayton Kershaw Start Dodgers Opening Day

Tyler Glasnow, Seoul Series

When the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired Tyler Glasnow from the Tampa Bay Rays during the offseason, it represented a homecoming as the right-hander grew up in Southern California and as a fan of the team.

That was part of the reason why Glasnow called it a “no-brainer” to sign a five-year, $136.5 million contract extension with the Dodgers in order to facilitate the trade.

Glasnow attended several games at Dodger Stadium as a child and recalled watching Clayton Kershaw start on Opening Day. “I don’t think I’ve been to an Opening Day. I would just go randomly throughout the year, but obviously watched them all on TV and stuff,” Glasnow said.

“I was a little older, but watching Kershaw and stuff like that. Going back now, nostalgia kind of floods in and it’s a really cool feeling.”

Kershaw has made a Dodgers franchise-record nine starts on Opening Day, including most recently in 2021. The future Hall of Famer re-signed with the team this past winter, but won’t add to his Opening Day starts this year as he is going to be sidelined until at least the second half of the season.

Meanwhile, Glasnow gets to follow in Kershaw’s footsteps by starting the Dodger Stadium opener on Thursday.

Glasnow has already taken the mound for the Dodgers this season as he limited the San Diego Padres to two runs over five innings in the Seoul Series on Opening Day.

Tyler Glasnow & Yoshinobu Yamamoto made Dodgers history

Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto made Dodgers franchise history by becoming the first pitchers to make their team debuts in the first two games of a season.

Glasnow individually became the first pitcher to start on Opening Day of his inaugural season with the Dodgers since Derek Lowe in 2005.

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Watch: Bryan Cranston Narrates MLB Opening Week Promotional Video From Dodger Stadium

Bryan Cranston, Dodger Stadium view

MLB again tapped acclaimed actor and longtime Los Angeles Dodgers fan Bryan Cranston to narrate a promotional video. Whereas Cranston focused on rule changes last year, his latest work with MLB drums up excitement for Opening Week of the 2024 season with an “Anything Can Happen” campaign.

The Dodgers and San Diego Padres technically already started the regular season with the Seoul Series last week, but Thursday sees 26 teams in action.

The original MLB schedule called for all 30 teams to play March 28, but Opening Day for the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Mets were postponed due to rain, and the same occurred with the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.

Cranston’s newest MLB video features the “Breaking Bad” star walking the concourse at Dodger Stadium and also spending time in the dugout and on the field.

“In Major League Baseball you can dream with no limits,” Cranston begins. “You could become your hero, steal the show, or even start a new club. You can meet the moment and exceed the hype. You can write a new chapter of history and let your city dream again.

“This season, anything can happen!”

Cranston’s ad, along with additional promotional videos that feature players, will appear on MLB Network, MLB.com, MLB.TV, Fox, FS1, ESPN, TBS and Apple, among other digital media sites.

Celebrity Dodgers fan: Bryan Cranston

Cranston has previously shared memories of watching the Dodgers play at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and being wowed by
the likes of Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Don Sutton, Duke Snider, Davey Lopes, Steve Garvey, Reggie Smith, Rick Monday, Fernando Valenzuela and Kirk Gibson, among others.

Cranston has several ties to the Dodgers as he previously emceed Clayton Kershaw’s annual Ping Pong 4 Purpose celebrity tournament and participated in the 2022 Celebrity All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.

Cranston also presented Vin Scully with the Icon Award during the 25th edition of the ESPYs in 2017.

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Domestic Opening Day Recap: Tyler Glasnow & Big 3 Carry Dodgers To Win Vs. Cardinals

Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Willson Contreras

Although the Los Angeles Dodgers officially began their season one week ago in South Korea, they really kicked off the 2024 campaign on Thursday with Domestic Opening Day at Dodger Stadium.

The Dodgers hosted the St. Louis Cardinals, and nearly everything went right for them as they proved Miles Mikolas correct. Their 7-1 victory was reminiscent of a matchup between a highly talented baseball club against a group of Midwestern farmers.

Mikolas, who started for St. Louis, allowed five runs over 4.1 innings while giving up seven hits. The Dodgers jumped out early in the first inning with a walk from Mookie Betts, a double from Shohei Ohtani and a single from Freddie Freeman.

Unfortunately, that only accounted for one run as Ohtani made a base running mistake on his double and was tagged out at third base.

Still, the Dodgers continued to add on when Will Smith singled to put runners at the corners, which was followed by a sacrifice fly from Max Muncy to put them ahead 2-0.

Betts continued his red-hot start to the season with a solo home run in the third inning, putting the Dodgers up 3-0. It was Betts’ second long ball of the campaign after hitting one in Seoul.

Ohtani then worked a walk, and Freeman followed by hitting his first homer of the season, giving the Dodgers a 5-0 lead. Through the first four innings of the game, the Dodgers’ big three in the lineup went a combined 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, four RBI, and two walks.

The bottom of the Dodgers’ lineup also joined in to help the offense in the sixth inning as Teoscar Hernández doubled and James Outman drove him in with a single, giving the Dodgers a 6-1 lead.

The heart of the Dodgers lineup once again produced some offense in the seventh inning as Betts and Freeman both worked a walk. That was followed by an RBI single from Muncy for the seventh Dodgers’ run of the game.

On the mound, Tyler Glasnow made the start for the Dodgers, and he gave them a phenomenal outing. Glasnow pitched six innings, giving up just two hits and one run while striking out five and walking one.

Paul Goldschmidt, a noted thorn in the Dodgers’ side, was the only Cardinals player to record a hit off Glasnow, which included a solo home run.

Following Glasnow, Ryan Yarbrough took over to close out the game and record a save with three scoreless innings, giving up only one hit to Goldschmidt.

Tyler Glasnow recalled watching Clayton Kershaw make Opening Day starts for Dodgers

Tyler Glasnow, who grew up in Southern California, attended several games at Dodger Stadium as a child and recalled watching Clayton Kershaw start on Opening Day.

“I don’t think I’ve been to an Opening Day. I would just go randomly throughout the year, but obviously watched them all on TV and stuff,” Glasnow said.

“I was a little older, but watching Kershaw and stuff like that. Going back now, nostalgia kind of floods in and it’s a really cool feeling.”

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Dodgers Broadcaster Charley Steiner Not Calling Dodger Stadium Opener Due To Back Injury

Charley Steiner, 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation Blue Diamond Gala

Charley Steiner is entering his 20th season as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ radio play-by-play announcer for AM 570 L.A. Sports, but will be missing domestic Opening Day at Dodger Stadium this year and the initial stretch of games due to a back injury.

“Over the winter, I landed on the Injured List with three compound fractures in my back. (I don’t recommend it),” Steiner said in a statement shared by the Dodgers.

“With the start of the baseball season upon us, the Dodgers are ready to go – but I’m not. This will be the first Opening Day that I will have missed since 1976, when I wore a younger man’s clothes. I look forward to returning to the mic later this season.

“In the meantime, go Dodgers!”

Steiner has primarily worked as radio broadcaster with the Dodgers but also filled in on SportsNet LA when Joe Davis is away for a Fox assignment. Steiner shifted into a reduced role after signing a contract extension with the team in December 2018.

Prior to joining the Dodgers in 2005, Steiner had a three-year stint as a broadcaster for the New York Yankees on WCBS Radio and the YES Network. He previously spent 14 years at ESPN, working as an anchor for “SportsCenter” and play-by-play announcer for national MLB and NFL broadcasts.

Steiner, who turns 75 in August, is a five-time Emmy Award winner and member of the National Radio Hall of Fame.

Tim Neverett filling in for Charley Steiner

With Steiner currently away from the Dodgers as he recovers from his back injury, Stephen Nelson and Tim Neverett are expected to help handle play-by-play duties for radio broadcasts on AM 570 L.A. Sports.

Neverett is working alongside longtime Dodgers broadcaster Rick Monday, who was inducted into the Cactus League Hall of Fame earlier this month.

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2024 Los Angeles Dodgers Domestic Opening Day Roster

Dodger Stadium view, 2019 Opening Day

The Los Angeles Dodgers roster for domestic Opening Day has an even split of 13 pitchers and 13 position players, just like their group did for the Seoul Series last week.

Bobby Miller, James Paxton and Gavin Stone are the only new additions on the Dodgers’ second roster of the 2024 season. The trio of starting pitchers wasn’t included on the roster for the Seoul Series due to the team only needing Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to start against the San Diego Padres.

Miller, Paxton and Stone are taking the roster spots of J.P. Feyereisen, Landon Knack and Gus Varland, who were optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City late last week.

Although the Dodgers bullpen features a bevy of options, Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen remain sidelined due to respective shoulder and lung injuries. Walker Buehler (right elbow surgery) and Emmet Sheehan (right forearm inflammation) were also placed on the 15-day injured list to begin the season.

Meanwhile, Tony Gonsolin, Clayton Kershaw and Dustin May all started the year on the 60-day injured list from previous roster moves. Gonsolin and May were both placed on the 60-day IL in February, and Kershaw in early March.

There are no surprises on the position player side of the Dodgers roster as the group includes Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani, among other stars.

Ohtani is eligible to play in games while MLB conducts an investigation into former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara’s illegal gambling activities.

2024 Dodgers Opening Day roster

Pitchers (13): Ryan Brasier, Tyler Glasnow, Michael Grove, Daniel Hudson, Kyle Hurt, Joe Kelly, Bobby Miller, James Paxton, Evan Phillips, Gavin Stone, Alex Vesia, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Ryan Yarbrough

Catchers (2): Austin Barnes, Will Smith

Designated hitter (1): Shohei Ohtani

Infielders (4): Freddie Freeman, Gavin Lux, Max Muncy, Miguel Rojas

Outfielders (3): Teoscar Hernández, Jason Heyward, James Outman

Infielders/outfielders (3): Mookie Betts, Kiké Hernández, Chris Taylor

Injured list (7): Walker Bueher, Tony Gonsolin, Brusdar Graterol, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Emmet Sheehan, Blake Treinen

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This Day In Dodgers History: Opening Day Home Run Record Set

Cody Bellinger

On March 28, 2019, the Los Angeles Dodgers began the season in emphatic fashion as they set an Opening Day record and tied a franchise all-time mark for any game with eight home runs against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

They were led by two apiece from Kiké Hernandez and Joc Pederson. Austin Barnes, Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy also contributed to the record-setting afternoon at Dodger Stadium.

The home run barrage began with Pederson, who clubbed a two-run blast to center field in the second inning. Beyond Pederson giving the Dodgers a 2-0 lead, there was added satisfaction in Pederson’s homer as it came off Zack Greinke.

He famously referred his former teammate as an “easy out,” which Pederson revealed prior to facing Greinke for the first time since he signed with the Diamondbacks in free agency. Greinke ran into more trouble in the fourth inning as he surrendered back-to-back home runs to Hernandez and Austin Barnes.

Corey Seager then took Greinke deep for a solo shot, extending the Dodgers’ lead to 7-0 and knocking the right-hander out of the game. It was the first time Greinke allowed four home runs since the Dodgers hit that many during a 2016 game.

With the Dodgers comfortably ahead 7-1 in the sixth inning, Pederson swatted his second homer of the day, tagging Matt Koch for a two-run blast.

The Dodgers’ final home runs in 12-5 rout came in the seventh, when Muncy, Bellinger and Hernandez each hit a solo shot. Bellinger and Hernandez combined for back-to-back home runs with two outs.

Dodgers set multiple records during Opening Series

Opening Day was a sign of things to come both in the short- and long-term for L.A. They scored 34 runs through the first three games of the season, which marked the most in franchise history since the Brooklyn Grays plated 35 in 1887.

Moreover, they set an L.A. franchise record in 42 runs in the four-game set against the Diamondbacks, which fell just two shy of tying the Dodgers’ all-time record set when the 1953 team scored 44 runs against the St. Louis Cardinals; the 1929 club initially held the mark with 44 runs scored during a four-game set with the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Dodgers slugged a total of 14 home runs during the Opening Series against the Diamondbacks, which was one short of tying a franchise record for most most (15) in a four-game series, which was against the New York Mets in 2017.

Lastly, the Dodgers finished the 2019 season with a National League record 279 home runs. It previously was held by the Houston Astros (249) and the Dodgers’ all-time record was 235 home runs in a single season.

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St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day Roster For Dodgers Series

Paul Goldschmidt, 2024 Spring Training

The St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day roster heading into their matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers does not include Tommy Edman, Dylan Carlson or Lars Nootbaar due to injuries.

On the pitching front, Sonny Gray has battled a right-hamstring strain and is not available as well. Miles Mikolas is the current No. 1 starter in the Cardinals rotation and gets the ball against the Dodgers on Opening Day.

The Cardinals underwhelmed in 2023, finishing last in the National League Central with a 71-91 record. They’ll have to weather the hefty toll injuries have taken on their roster, but a middling division should keep them in the running.

Lance Lynn, who finished last season with the Dodgers, signed with the Cardinals on a one-year, $11 million contract with a team option for the 2025 season.

Meanwhile, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was recently inked to a two-year extension, keeping him at the helm through the 2026 season.

Jordan Walker remains an increasingly intriguing piece for the Cardinals, as he’s surrounded by numerous veteran sluggers. Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Arenado and Willson Contreras are the right-handed bats they’ll rely on, with a number of rising, young players to fill in the cracks.

Non-roster invitee Victor Scott II was added to the 40-man roster, with the Cardinals designating Jared Young for assignment on Wednesday.

2024 Cardinals Opening Day roster

Pitchers (13): Ryan Fernandez, Giovanny Gallegos, Kyle Gibson, Ryan Helsey, Andrew Kittredge, Matthew Liberatore, Lance Lynn, Steve Matz, Miles Mikolas, Riley O’Brien, Andre Pallante, JoJo Romero, Zack Thompson

Catchers (2): Willson Contreras, Iván Herrera

Infielders (7): Nolan Arenado, Matt Carpenter, Brandon Crawford, Brendan Donovan, Paul Goldschmidt, Nolan Gorman, Masyn Wynn

Outfielders (4): Alec Burleson, Victor Scott II, Michael Siani, Jordan Walker

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Dodgers News: Shohei Ohtani ‘Once A Lifetime’ Talent

Shohei Ohtani, Miguel Rojas, Dodgers workout, 2024 Spring Training

The Los Angeles Dodgers signing Shohei Ohtani to a record-setting $700 million contract generated plenty of media headlines and also stirred up excitement throughout the organization.

President of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and manager Dave Roberts were among those to immediately rave about Ohtani, and teammates have followed suit as well.

That type of support became all the more key in light of Ippei Mizuhara being fired as Ohtani’s interpreter due to illegal sports betting.

As for what Ohtani brings on the field, Miguel Rojas raved about the two-way star and getting an opportunity to be his Dodgers teammate, per Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:

“This is a talent that might come once a lifetime,” he said. “So this is a privilege for us, and especially for me as a player, to be in the same clubhouse as a player like him.

“I’m really happy I can call him my teammate, and having the opportunity to be on the same field with him for the first time, it’s a privilege. I’m not going to take it for granted. I’m gonna enjoy the opportunity of playing with him, and hopefully we can get to celebrate together at the end of the year.”

The buzz surrounding Ohtani steadily increased throughout the offseason and despite all his accomplishments, he took a humble approach to being in Spring Training with the team for the first time.

Rojas has been part of various team profiles from his years with the Miami Marlins. Between bad rosters, rebuilding and fringe-competing clubs, the veteran infielder is taking is basking in his time with the Dodgers and their standing as a World Series favorite.

Shohei Ohtani cooperating with investigations

In his first public comments since Mizuhara’s gambling activity came to light, Ohtani said he never bet on baseball or any other sports, and his bank account was impermissibly used.

Ohtani also stated he’s cooperating with all investigations into the matter.

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Domestic Opening Day Game Preview: Shohei Ohtani & Tyler Glasnow Make Dodgers Home Debut Vs. Cardinals

Tyler Glasnow, Seoul Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers continue the 2024 season with their Dodger Stadium opener against the St. Louis Cardinals, which follows their Opening Day overseas in South Korea and a brief return to exhibition play.

Tyler Glasnow is making his second start for the Dodgers in their first three games, a result of the unusual schedule the club had to open the year.

Glasnow battled through some control issues against the San Diego Padres in Seoul, but still managed to only give up two earned runs over five innings, giving the Dodgers the chance to steal a 5-2 comeback victory.

It is his second start in an Opening Day atmosphere, but this time he gets to walk the same path of a pitcher he grew up watching in Clayton Kershaw, taking the mound for the Dodgers in their home opener.

Will Smith bats fourth for the Dodgers one day after signing his 10-year, $140 million extension, and he’s joined by the expected core of Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernández.

Ohtani is making his Dodger Stadium home debut despite the distraction of an ongoing MLB investigation into his potential involvement in Ippei Mizuhara’s illegal gambling and potential theft.

Nevertheless, the 2024 MLB season for the Dodgers is here to stay for good this time as they resume their hunt for their eighth World Series title and second since the 2020 season.

They are once again led by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who is in his ninth season at the helm after leading the Dodgers to another 100-win season.

With the Dodgers, he has posted a 754-443 record (.630), which is the highest winning percentage by a manager in MLB history with a minimum of 1,000 games managed.

In his eight full seasons as Dodger Manager, he has recorded five 100-win seasons, joining Bobby Cox (6), Joe McCarthy (6), Connie Mack (5) and Earl Weaver (5) as the only managers to accomplish the feat.

For the Cardinals, it is their one and only Opening Day and have given Miles Mikolas the task of ushering them into 2024.

The Cardinals are coming off of a disappointing season in 2023, finishing dead last in the National League Central with a 71-91 record under manager Oliver Marmol. The skipper is in his third season at the helm with the Cardinals and enters Thursday with a 164-160 record.

Mikolas had one of his worst seasons as a professional in 2023, pitching to the tune of a 4.78 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and the lowest strikeout totals he’s had in a full season.

However, he was still very effective as an innings eater, which is very valuable in its own right. He reached at least 200 innings for a second consecutive year and third time in his career.

The Cardinals still have a good amount of star power in their lineup and some exciting young talent. Veteran superstars Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt lead the way, while highly touted youngsters Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, and Masyn Winn follow suit.

Dodgers lineup

SS: Mookie Betts
DH: Shohei Ohtani
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
LF: Teoscar Hernández
CF: James Outman
RF: Jason Heyward
2B: Gavin Lux

Cardinals lineup

LF: Brendan Donovan
1B: Paul Goldschmidt
2B: Nolan Gorman
3B: Nolan Arenado
C: Willson Contreras
DH: Alec Burleson
RF: Jordan Walker
CF: Victor Scott II
SS: Masyn Winn

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Dave Roberts: Mookie Betts ‘Going To Get Better’ At Shortstop With More Experience

Mookie Betts, Freeway Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost in Freeway Series finale against the Los Angeles Angels, which featured Mookie Betts back at shortstop after playing second base the night prior.

Making the jump from right field, initially to second base, and now shortstop out of necessity, Betts has welcomed the challenge of a demanding middle infield position. There have been several tough plays made that look routine, while some hiccups remind growing pains are to be expected.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts discussed his Betts’ shortstop experience thus far, noting that his continued work will land him in a good place, per Mike DiGiovanna of the L.A. Times:

“I think it’s just one of those things where he’s got to continue to get repetitions,” Roberts said. “Ball to his right, ball to his left … there are a lot of plays that he hasn’t seen yet that he’s going to see and have different chances. I’m just glad it happened now, and he’s only going to get better with repetitions.”

Betts’ athleticism and desire to be great at multiple things is a likely factor in the Dodgers’ faith in him being a capable option at shortstop. Without mentioning his ability to impact a game on the offensive end, Betts at minimum figures to be a fine stopgap in the interim.

The Dodgers pivoting away from their original plan from Gavin Lux at shortstop was a quick decision, but having Betts willing and able to take over is a stroke of good fortune.

Mookie Betts wants to win Gold Glove

Betts has won six Gold Glove Awards in his career, all while playing right field. His most recent came in 2022 and the 31-year-old is still eyeing another, even after his second position swap since the end of the 2023 season.

Betts’ desire to add a seventh Gold Glove to his collection is more of a personal benchmark that he hopes comes within the Dodgers’ pursuit of a World Series.

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