The signing of Shohei Ohtani last offseason created a unique scenario for manager Dave Roberts needing to decide how three former MVPs would be ordered in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup.
Conversations with the players involved initially amounted to Mookie Betts remaining the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter, as he had been since joining the team in 2020. Ohtani hit second and Freddie Freeman batted third.
The order of Betts, Ohtani and Freeman proved to be a successful as all three players had a batting average of .300 or better and the Dodgers were 44-29 on June 16. But when Betts missed time because of a left hand fracture, it amounted to Ohtani replacing him in the leadoff spot of the Dodgers lineup.
Ohtani excelled in that role and remained atop the lineup even after Betts returned. Freeman continued to bat third, though there were instances when he was dropped down to the cleanup spot when the Dodgers faced a left-handed starter.
Expected Dodgers lineup order for 2025
While the Dodgers did not have their regular lineup on Thursday in the Cactus League opener, Roberts nevertheless faced questions about the order for this season.
“Shohei will hit leadoff, Mookie will be in the two, Freddie in the three, Teo in the four, and then we’ll kind of figure it out from there,” Roberts answered.
1. Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani hit .307/.392/.680 with 20 doubles, five triples, 35 home runs, 84 RBI and 44 stolen bases in 90 games as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter.
“I just think it protects Mookie a little bit,” Roberts said of Ohtani remaining in the leadoff spot. “I just think it makes the most sense, is hardest to navigate (for an opponent) and give Shohei five at-bats a night.”
2. Mookie Betts
Betts’ production dropped in his 43 games as the Dodgers’ No. 2 hitter, but that conceivably could have been tied to returning from a fractured left hand. Betts did fare well during the playoffs en route to earning the Babe Ruth Award.
Betts has maintained he will hit anywhere in the Dodgers lineup. Much of the focus this year figures to be on Betts’ transition to playing shortstop anyhow.
3. Freddie Freeman
Freeman hitting third is a plenty familiar spot. He’s done so for the most games of his career (1,285), which is ahead of Freeman’s 367 games when batting second in the lineup.
4. Teoscar Hernández
Teoscar Hernández is also poised to be in a similar role to last season, which was his first with the Dodgers. Hernández played 74 games as their cleanup hitter, which is comfortably ahead of his second-most 29 games when batting fifth.
By slotting Hernández fourth in the lineup, the Dodgers are able to keep a seemingly preferred strategy of alternating the handedness of their batters.
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