As the Los Angeles Dodgers gear up for their regular season matchup against the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series, one major change from last year’s team will be Dodgers star Mookie Betts moving to shortstop from right field.
Betts is one of the best right-fielders of all time, earning six Gold Gloves at the position, but he believes switching to shortstop will help the team more due to their lack of offensive production at the position in the last couple of years. The Dodger’s eight-time All-Star Betts tried this same position change a season ago but eventually had to move back to right field after their outfield was depleted with injury.
Former Dodger Manny Machado, and now National League West foe with the San Diego Padres revealed his thoughts on the positional change to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale: “I don’t know why he’d want to do that,” Machado said.
“I don’t know, man, it’s crazy what he’s trying to do. He’s a Gold Glover. He’s such a good outfielder. Why go play such a demanding position? It takes so much of a toll on your body.”
Machado fully understands the toll playing shortstop has on your body, as for the first half of his career he was a stellar defensive shortstop before moving to third base for the same reason he is puzzled by Betts’s positional move.
There have already been several reports in Dodgers camp about Betts’ improvement at the position, and in his limited chances in the spring he has faired well, but the real test will be when Los Angeles kicks off its 2025 MLB season.
As the Los Angeles Dodgers gear up for their regular season matchup against the Chicago Cubs in the Tokyo Series, one major change from last year’s team will be Dodgers star Mookie Betts moving to shortstop from right field.
Betts is one of the best right-fielders of all time, earning six Gold Gloves at the position, but he believes switching to shortstop will help the team more due to their lack of offensive production at the position in the last couple of years.
The Dodger’s eight-time All-Star Betts tried this same position change a season ago but eventually had to move back to right field after their outfield was depleted with injury.
Former Dodger Manny Machado, and now National League West foe with the San Diego Padres revealed his thoughts on the positional change to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale: “I don’t know why he’d want to do that,” Machado said. “I don’t know, man, it’s crazy what he’s trying to do.