Mookie Betts made a quick impact when he returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup on Monday night after a two-month layoff due to a fractured left hand.
In his second at-bat, Betts hit a two-run home run against Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta by hitting an inside fastball over the left outfield boundary. It was his 11th home run of the season.
Betts got a little revenge on Peralta, who made the All-Star look bad in his first at-bat. The 11-year veteran missed a slider, twisted and stumbled to the left side of the batter’s box.
started in a new but familiar position when he took the field in Milwaukee. Betts moved from shortstop back to right field, where he has played most of his career – including during his 2018 MVP season with the Boston Red Sox. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the decision before Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Miguel Rojas will remain at shortstop, where he has played since Betts went on the injured list, and will be backed up by Nick Ahmed.
Betts was the Dodgers’ starting shortstop until his injury, moving to the position in spring training when Gavin Lux was having trouble throwing. He played 65 games there this season (61 as a starter). The plan was to keep Betts as shortstop when he returned, but he says it was better for the team to move back to right field.
“I think it was kind of a two-way thing, but I would say I mostly reached out to them,” Betts said, via Mike Digiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. “I said, ‘Listen, I think I can do it, but I want to win, man. I want to win. And I don’t know if I’m the best fit (as shortstop).'”
Jason Heyward has played right field for most of the season. The veteran plays strong defense at the position according to advanced stats, but also has a .204 batting average and .665 OPS.
On offense, however, Betts is a clear improvement. He reached his MVP standard of .305 average and .903 OPS with 16 doubles, 11 home runs and nine stolen bases. And he has always been excellent in right field. During his career, he recorded 132 Defensive Runs Saved and was awarded six Gold Gloves for his play.
“That’s basically like reading the mood in the room when I’m talking to him,” Roberts told reporters. “And that’s part of my job, is to get a sense of where he’s at and where the ballclub is at. And that’s something we both believe the organization is best for the Dodgers in 2024, too.”
In addition, upon his return, Betts gives up his first batting spot in the batting order to Shohei Ohtani, who posted a slash average of .274/.383/.637 with 16 home runs and 17 stolen bases at the top of the lineup.
