Dodgers’ Mookie Betts to Play Right Field in Injury Return After Shortstop Experiment
Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts will make his return to the field on Monday, but not in the position he was in to start the season.
Betts will return to his familiar right field spot after Los Angeles experimented with him at shortstop to start the year, per The Athletic’s c. The move comes just days after manager Dave Roberts said Betts would play shortstop upon his return.
Betts has been out since mid-June with a fractured hand he suffered on a hit-by-pitch. Before the injury, Betts had 10 home runs, 40 RBI and a .304 batting average in 72 games.
According to Ardaya, Roberts said the decision to move Betts back to the outfield is one he made with the team’s pennant chances in mind.
“We’re in a pennant race right now,” Roberts said “We have a whatever game lead and so you (ask), what’s best for the ballclub?”
Betts echoed the sentiment, embracing the new challenge of playing shortstop but ultimately accepting that being in the outfield is the best move for both him and the team.
“At some point you have to be real with yourself,” he said, per Ardaya. “I just want to win.”
Betts will make his return against the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday on the heels of the Dodgers series with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Los Angeles currently sits at the top of the NL West at 66-49 on the year and it will look to Betts to help maintain that lead.
