Mookie Betts played his way to becoming a Gold Glove finalists in the National League at the shortstop position, and in the process gained unwavering support from the Los Angeles Dodgers on his position change.
Coming off his first full season at shortstop, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed Betts is going to remain there in 2026.
“He was right there in that Gold Glove race. I think the only person that could’ve felt he had that in him this year was Mookie,” Roberts said during the Winter Meetings. “Really proud of what Mookie did at shortstop.
“Even that last play in the World Series, he worked on that play a lot to not make that ball go arm side. On the run, fielded, runner bearing down on you, to then throw it on the run and throw a strike to Freddie, that’s just a little snippet of his growth.”
The Dodgers initially planned to move Betts to second base at the start of the 2024 season, but Gavin Lux’s throwing woes required a switch to shortstop late in Spring Training. Betts performed admirably considering he was learning the position on the fly, but a right hand fracture interrupted that progress.
Once Betts was ready to return from the injured list, it was determined the Dodgers would benefit most by moving him back to right field to finish out the season. Betts embraced the position change but remained determine to ultimately stick as a shortstop.
A full offseason of training made a marked difference, along with continued tutelage from Miguel Rojas throughout this past year.
Betts led all NL shortstops with 21 outs above average. That was good for second overall among MLB shortstops to only Kansas City Royals All-Star Bobby Witt Jr. (24). Although Betts fell short for a Gold Glove, he did win a Fielding Bible Award at shortstop.
Dodgers shortstop history
The shortstop position has been somewhat of a revolving door for the Dodgers ever since Corey Seager left the team in free agency to sign with the Texas Rangers following the 2021 season.
Trea Turner, who was traded to the Dodgers in Seager’s final year and played second base, moved back to his natural position for the 2022 season. Turner then left for the Philadelphia Phillies in free agency, and the Dodgers turned to Rojas to fill the void at shortstop in 2023 due to Gavin Lux suffering a season-ending knee injury in Spring Training.
Lux was again penciled in to take the reins at shortstop in 2024, but he couldn’t overcome throwing struggles. Betts then became the Dodgers’ Opening Day starter and Lux shifted to second base. Rojas wound up spending the majority of the 2024 season as the starting shortstop because of Betts’ hand fracture and position change once he was activated.
The arrival of Tommy Edman also helped the Dodgers fill the need.
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