It has been a rough 2026 season for Mookie Betts through 122 at-bats. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ shortstop has not had a successful season at the plate as he tries to navigate through a change in his mechanics and approach, not to mention an early-season right oblique strain.
Betts has tried to keep a positive attitude while adapting on the fly this season, which has been difficult due to the lack of success. Part of the reason this process has been so strenuous is that his natural ability hasn’t been sufficient anymore, according to Katie Woo of The Athletic.
“It’s hard. Some things I used to do naturally don’t come naturally anymore,” Betts said. “Some things I have a knack for, just figuring things out, aren’t the same. It’s all new experiences that I’m trying to learn. I’m doing different things. I’m here every day early. I’m just trying to figure it out.
“I’m in that season where I’m trying to keep up with the times,” he added. “A lot of the things I did naturally don’t really work, so I have to find new things, and finding new things takes time. You don’t just find it in a day. It takes time, effort.”
The 33-year-old strongly believes his hard work will eventually pay off, despite all the evidence to the contrary.
“I truly believe I can still do it, but when you’re in that learning phase, and you don’t know where to go, and you’re in a dark time … I think everyone knows how hard I work and what I’m trying to do. So I trust and have faith that I’ll get through it.”
Betts is batting .185/.252/.354 with just 10 extra-base hits this season. There doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel any time soon, either, with just four hits in his last 28 at-bats.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes there are multiple issues affecting Betts’ offense, including a lack of confidence in his mechanics and anxiousness in the batter’s box.
Rather than let his offensive shortcomings affect the rest of his game, Betts has continued to be a plus defender at shortstop this season. It is a positive indicator of his headspace from game to game.
Mookie Betts among special guests for Disney Jr. show
Betts is portraying “Dizzy Doubleday” in the Disney Jr. series “Marvel’s Iron Man and his Awesome Friends.”
The character is described as a baseball player who loves to help young kids learn the game. New episodes of the show premiere Thursday, June 11, on Disney Jr. at 7:00 a.m. PT, and Disney Jr. on Demand.
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