Mookie Betts entered the 2026 season with a renewed focus on physical preparation and maintenance after experiencing complications last season that had ripple effects throughout the year.
During the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2025 season, Betts lost more than 20 pounds over the course of his battle with a stomach illness, and it severely impacted him throughout the year.
He spent the offseason restoring normalcy with his weight, strength, and, as a result, his bat speed. The 33-year-old is delighted with his current conditioning and is actively taking steps to maintain it throughout this season.
Among his new steps, Betts has incorporated aspects of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s unique workout routine into his own, according to Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Betts adopted a stretching routine designed by Yada Sensei that first spring and has added to it since. Earlier this spring, he was spied carrying Sensei on his shoulders as part of the routine – “He’s only 130 pounds” – and uses the same javelins as Yamamoto daily.
Betts has learned a lot from Yamamoto’s strength and conditioning coach, Yada Sensei, with some of the exercises being directly transferable to what he does on the field:
“I’m not fully in his whole routine, but what I can do – I wake up and do my stretch routine that Yada Sensei showed me every day. I throw the javelins every day,” Betts said. “I think throwing the javelins is why I can make a play like that (against the Cubs on Sunday) in the hole and throw it on a line. I’m really grateful for Yoshi and Sensei because they definitely changed my perspective, changed my life, my game.”
In addition to taking care of his body, Betts also recalibrated his swing over the offseason. The process involved zeroing in on doing the things he excels at, rather than completely changing his swing mechanics.
The combination of his physical health and refocused mechanics has him looking much better at the plate this spring. The right-hander is hitting .286/.348/.476 with a double and a home run in 21 at-bats.
Dave Roberts believes Mookie Betts will be in the MVP conversation
In 2025, Betts slashed .258/.326/.406 with 20 home runs and 82 RBI. His resulting 104 wRC+ was the lowest of his career and the worst mark of his Dodgers tenure.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is anticipating a return to form at the plate for Betts in 2026, more in line with his career 136 wRC+. Based on what the former MVP has shown this spring, Roberts could be on to something.
Add on another season of Gold Glove-caliber defense at shortstop and Betts could make a strong case to be back in the running for National League MVP.
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