Continuing his push for the 2023 National League MVP Award, Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star Mookie Betts broke another milestone on Saturday when he logged his 105th RBI of the season from the leadoff spot.
Betts had been tied with Colorado Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who set the MLB record of 103 RBI during his terrific 2017 campaign. Betts required fewer games to break the MLB record for most RBI as a leadoff hitter during one season.
Betts previously joined an elite group with his four-RBI night on Monday, becoming just the third leadoff man to have at least 100 in a single season. Along with Blackmon and Betts, the feat was accomplished by Darin Erstad with his 100 RBI for the Anaheim Angels during the 2000 season.
Betts has redefined a lot of who he is at the plate, transforming himself from just a gap-to-gap hitter he was early in his career, to a pure power threat. He’s the current owner of the Dodgers record for most home runs from the leadoff spot, and extends his lead with each wall-clearing blast.
His ability to make the most of each at-bats has positioned Betts to have the best season since his AL MVP year in 2018 while with the Boston Red Sox. He’s rapidly approaching at all-time mark for runs in one season from a leadoff hitter, currently ranking in the top-15 in that category.
The Dodgers’ offensive identity has a lot to do with Betts and his keen understanding of situational hitting, and it’s now the driving force for a huge piece of their top-ranked offense.
How much does Mookie Betts mean to Dodgers offense?
The saying for the Dodgers in Betts’ tenure has been, as he goes, so does the offense. It’s no surprise that with an incredible offensive season from the leadoff man, a consistent boom of run production has followed down the lineup.
“Our offense starts with Mookie. He gets on base and he can slug,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said this week. “You don’t see too many leadoff hitters drive in 100 runs in a season. What he’s doing, with the slug, it really is unprecedented. He’s on a short list of guys that drive in 100 runs from the leadoff spot.”
Now that Betts is back following a scare after fouling a ball off his left foot, his big performances are a clear indication he hasn’t skipped a beat. Roberts added that his spot at the top of the lineup remains a steadying force that has an immense trickle-down effect, and Betts being healthy is great news.
“When he feels right and feels healthy, there’s just not many guys that can do what he does,” Roberts said. “He took a couple days off, getting him back, he’s just picked up right where he left off.”
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