Mookie Betts had a productive 2021 season but fell short of expectations as he played through back trouble a bone spur in his right hip.
A second cortisone shot helped remedy the issue, he did not require offseason surgery and reported to Spring Training this year with a clean bill health. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he anticipated Betts would be in the National League MVP discussion.
However, through the first two weeks of the season the 2018 American League MVP failed to meet even last year’s production. Betts acknowledged disappointment and frustration with his swing, which Roberts felt was caught in between on a lot of pitches.
Some of that changed in the series opener against the San Diego Padres on Friday night, as Betts slugged two home runs. Following the Dodgers’ win, Betts reiterated he is healthy and simply has been mired in a slump, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
“It’s just me,” he said, dismissing questions about the hip problem that limited him in 2021. “I can’t blame it on the hip, I can’t blame it on anything else. It’s all me. You have to take ownership for sucking. It is what it is though. I’m working. My teammates have been amazing in keeping us winning and I just want to do my part to help us win.”
Betts also credited Dodgers teammates for their support and motivation during a period in which he candidly admitted to not being strong mentally:
“Just everything, man,” he said when asked if he had focused his work on anything in particular. “It’s kind of tough to focus on one thing when a lot of things are kind of going wrong. You have to be mentally tough and, you know, I wasn’t. I was not mentally tough and my teammates stayed on me. … You just kinda let it get to you and then it just compounds. I take full ownership of letting it compound.”
One of Betts’ primary issues heading into play at Petco Park had been a lack of hard contact. His first home run qualified as such, traveling an estimated 420 to the upper deck in left field at a 104.8 mph exit velocity.
The big night raised Betts’ on-base plus slugging percentage to .708 and he now has a 115 wRC+.
Roberts didn’t have extra concern with Betts
Even as the 29-year-old right fielder was mired in a subpar start to the season, Roberts continued to maintain his confidence success would come.
“I think long term as far as the season, no,” Roberts answered if he was concerned about Betts’ trajectory this year. “He’s healthy, he feels good. Certainly the at-bats aren’t Mookie-typical. I don’t have an answer right now on why he’s sort of scuffling.
“He’s just got to continue to put in work and take it one day at a time. Long-term concern? no.”
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