Dodgers Change Plans on Mookie Betts’ Position for 2024 Season

Mookie Betts hasn’t always been a super-utility type player. From 2015-20, between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, Betts almost exclusively played in the outfield. From 2016-20, he was primarily a right fielder.

When Betts joined the Dodgers ahead of the 2020 season, though, there were ongoing talks about getting him back on the infield dirt.

The most drastic change came last season, when Betts split his time between the outfield and infield. Betts logged 701.2 innings at right field, 485 innings at second base, and even 98 innings at shortstop when the Dodgers really needed the help.

This year, it was looking like Betts was going to be the everyday second baseman, filling his preferred role. However, when starting shortstop Gavin Lux struggled in spring training, the Dodgers pulled the plug on Lux and named Betts the starting shortstop despite having minimal experience at the position.

Now, Betts has done just about everything he can to work up to being an average defender at shortstop. He’s always been up for the challenge, and that mindset has likely seeped through to his other teammates.

Unfortunately, Betts suffered a freak injury when he was hit by a pitch in June that produced a fracture. He’s been out ever since but is expected to return next week.

As Betts neared a return to play, questions swirled regarding where he would play on the diamond. Would he go back to shortstop, a position he’s still learning and struggling with, and has a top-five defender option in Miguel Rojas? Would he go to second base, essentially removing a red-hot Lux out of the lineup? Or, would he go back to the outfield? The dreaded, dreaded outfield.

While Dodgers manager Dave Roberts initially told reporters that Betts was going to be the shortstop upon his return, that plan seemed to change quickly. On Friday, Roberts had a new update for reporters, saying Betts will be going all the way back to right field when he returns to the Dodgers next week.

Betts playing in right field is the best-case scenario for L.A. They get to keep Rojas’ plus defense at shortstop, they get to keep Lux’s hot bat and good defense at second base, and they get to fill one of their biggest needs which is production from the outfielders outside of Teoscar Hernández.

Betts going back to right field was always going to be the best option. It just was never clear if it would even be on the table as Betts has made his intentions known of wanting to play on the dirt.

However, the Dodgers know their lineup is fully optimized with Betts in the outfield, so fans will get to see the six-time Gold Glove right fielder back at his old stomping grounds this season. For fun, here’s what a Dodgers lineup could look like now assuming full health:

1. Shohei Ohtani, DH

2. Mookie Betts, RF

3. Freddie Freeman, 1B

4. Teoscar Hernández, LF

5. Max Muncy, 3B

6. Will Smith, C

7. Tomy Edman, CF

8. Miguel Rojas, SS

9. Gavin Lux, 2B

In my opinion, this is the optimal Dodgers postseason lineup assuming everyone is healthy.

1. Shohei Ohtani DH (L)2. Mookie Betts RF (R)3. Freddie Freeman 1B (L)4. Teoscar Hernández LF (R)5. Max Muncy 3B (L)6. Will Smith C (R)7. Tommy Edman CF (S)8. Miguel Rojas SS (R)9.…

— Noah Camras (@noahcamras) August 9, 2024