After playing multiple positions last year, Mookie Betts has reclaimed his spot as Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop to begin the 2025 season.
Betts held that role at the beginning of the 2024 season as well, which came after Gavin Lux struggled in Spring Training. However, the eight-time All-Star ultimately shifted back to right field upon returning from a left hand fracture.
Betts has more than held his own since returning to shortstop and credited Tommy Edman for helping him adjust to the position, via “Dodger Talk” with David Vassegh:
“One of the smartest, obviously one of the most talented. He’s really been someone I can talk to. He’s really easy to talk to, because I can go ask him a dumb question and he’s not going to look at me like, ‘Why did you ask me that? Or you’re supposed to know that.’
“He literally will just tell me. If it’s a pretty simple answer, he just says it simply. He doesn’t try to belittle me, and nobody does, but definitely Tommy, he’s really easy for me to talk to and ask those questions that I probably should know as a Major League shortstop, but I don’t because I haven’t been. He’s definitely been there for me the whole time. Hitting, fielding, everything.”
Edman has plenty of experience at shortstop in his Major League career, so he is certainly a valuable resource for Betts. The two have been double play partners for most of the season, with Edman getting many of his starts at second base.
Betts has committed two errors in 20 starts at shortstop this season and owns a .966 fielding percentage. He has additionally graded out positively in several other defensive metrics.
In addition to Edman, Betts has received insight from Miguel Rojas since last year on the intricacies of playing shortstop.
Mookie Betts benefited workouts at shortstop
Unlike last year when Betts was moved to shortstop late in Spring Training, he had a full offseason of workouts to help him prepare for the position change.
“Getting the work definitely helps and getting to go mess up and whatnot,” Betts recently said. “That definitely helps. We’ll see how it goes.”
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