Mookie Betts will shift from shortstop back to right field when he reenters the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup next week.
Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts announced that Betts will make this move on Monday in Milwaukee, where the team will kick off a four-game series against the Brewers.
“He feels most confident in right field compared to shortstop,” Roberts stated, highlighting Betts’ comfort level.
Just three days prior, Roberts indicated that Betts would remain at shortstop but would drop to the No. 2 spot in the batting order upon his return from a broken left hand.
Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani will maintain his leadoff position, where he has excelled with a .290 batting average, 15 home runs, 33 runs scored, and 35 RBIs since Betts’ injury on June 16.
Betts, who transitioned to the leadoff spot shortly after joining the Dodgers from the Boston Red Sox in 2020, has expressed his preference for batting first. Before his injury, he was performing well, hitting .304 with 10 home runs in 72 games.
Starting next week, the Dodgers’ batting order will feature Ohtani, Betts, and Freddie Freeman at the top, creating a formidable lineup for opposing pitchers.
