Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Lays Out Concrete Plan for Mookie Betts in the Infield
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Dodgers star outfielder Mookie Betts has been incredible in right field for as long as we can remember. He has won the Gold Glove Award in six different seasons and has made his presence felt in right field.
However, Betts has been very vocal that he also enjoys seeing time at second base. He has only clocked about 30 games total at that spot in his career and he has expressed that he wants to get more run there this season.
We have gotten a more firm vision on what team manager Dave Roberts has for Betts this coming year, and the 30-year-old will be excited moving forward. He shared his plans for the star to play the infield in an interview with Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated.
"It's real," said Roberts on Betts playing in the infield. "The way I envision it, Mookie starts about 40 games at second base and 110 in the outfield."
It's a welcome sign to see Roberts giving Betts more freedom to explore another position of his taste. He is already one of the more versatile players in the MLB, and this change on defense will allow him to strengthen his skills even more.
Betts is one of the best right fielders in baseball, probably just trailing New York Yankees' Aaron Judge — but from a defensive standpoint, he's probably No. 1. His dominance there has been clear, and many have wondered why he would want to move somewhere else.
Betts also spoke to Verducci in the interview, and jokingly addressed the criticisms from fans and analysts surrounding his reported move to second base.
“We’ll see. I mean, I may retire [from playing second], because people don’t like it,” said Betts. “They said I’m too good in right. So, I should just do that full time, to just stay out in right. So, I’m just, ‘Well, all right. ... I’ll go back out there.’ Whatever it is, that’s what it is.”
Nonetheless, it looks like the coaching staff and Betts have a solid plan in place. He will still spend a majority of his games in his familiar area, while also testing his skills at a spot that he has been asking to play.
