Mookie Betts to start the season at a new position that he’s played before

Mookie Betts during spring training / LAPRESSE

The Dodgers are moving pieces within the team, including positions. Los Angeles has the strongest lineup in all of MLB heading into the 2024 MLB season, at least on paper with big names like Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, Will Smith, Teoscar Hernandez, and Mookie Betts, among others.

Dave Roberts trusts in Betts’ versatility since it was initially mentioned that he would move from right field to second base for next season; however, Mookie will now have to adapt again to another position.

What did Dave Roberts say about the position change?

Roberts announced to MLB.com’s Juan Toribio that Betts will be the starting SS ‘permanently, for now,’ with an eye on him being the Dodgers’ Opening Day bullpen for the Opening Day game against the Padres in South Korea on March 20, after Gavin Lux, who was supposed to be the starting shortstop, struggled this Spring Training.

Mookie has played 16 total games as a shortstop in his career, all last season, committing three errors and posting a 0 DRS.

Making this move now is something that the entire organization feels is the right thing to do, to give us the best chance to prevent runs and win baseball games. I think, specifically for Gavin, it allows him to get to the other side of the diamond and he’s played more second base than he has as a bullpen player in recent years.

Dave Roberts

Dodgers can’t find their permanent shortstop

Following the departure of Corey Seager at the end of the 2021 season, the Dodgers have not had a permanent player for the position, having their third different SS to start a season, with Trea Turner and Miguel Rojas being the starting shortstops for the last two Opening Days, with Mookie being the last one on the roster.

Gavin Lux was initially expected to be the Dodgers’ permanent SS entering the 2023 season, but after tearing the ACL in his right knee in Spring Training last year, he missed the entire season, now he is being chosen to start 2024 at 2B.