The Los Angeles Dodgers announced Friday that they plan to have Mookie Betts play right field when he returns from the injured list on Monday.
Betts has spent most of this season at shortstop and second base, and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday that the 2018 American League Most Valuable Player would continue to be in the infield once he heals from a broken left hand.
But all that changed Friday.
‘I know that I said we want to start with Mookie out there at short, to then give the potential to pivot out there,’ Roberts said. ‘I had a good conversation with him last night. And, I think right now – and again, things always seem to change – but right now, we’re gonna kick Mookie out to right field.
‘It’s something that … we all feel that’s what’s best for our ballclub now, going forward. And could it change? Potentially. But I think that we all feel comfortable that Mookie needs to get acclimated back out there to right field and giving (Miguel Rojas) the opportunity to play short, within reason, as far as giving him certain off-days to keep him fresh. That’s kind of where we’re at right now.’
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Before this season, Betts spent the majority of the previous eight seasons in right field, earning six gold gloves at the position. But Gavin Lux struggled at shortstop in spring training and the Dodgers opted to move Betts to short, a position he hadn’t played regularly since high school.
Betts was batting .304 with 10 homers and 40 RBI in 72 games before being hit by a pitch June 16 against the Kansas City Royals.
When he returns, Betts will not be back in his familiar leadoff role. The Dodgers said Shohei Ohtani will continue to bat first, where the slugger was hitting .307 with 15 homers, 35 RBI and 33 runs (entering Friday’s game) since Betts suffered his injury. Betts is slated to bat second, followed by Freddie Freeman.
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