The Los Angeles Dodgers are getting ready for the postseason, and they have made a final decision on Mookie Betts’ position.
Betts has been the Dodgers’ shortstop all season, but struggles in the team’s outfield have raised questions about whether the six-time Gold Glove winner would return to the outfield.
Michael Conforto has struggled all season, and the team recently decided to give Teoscar Hernández some time on the bench as his performance has not been so sharp.
Hyeseong Kim is a versatile player and could be an option in the outfield, but having Betts on the roster does give the Dodgers an elite defender in the outfield if they want.
However, Dave Roberts made it clear that Betts will not return to the outfield like he did last season. “Mookie will not go to right field,” Roberts said multiple times, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Dylan Hernández.
Betts started last season at shortstop as well, but played right field after a stint on the injured list.
Betts has been fine defensively, and moving him off shortstop would not be a slight on his ability to play defense there.
Rather, it would just give the Dodgers a better outfield group and allow a player like Kim to play regularly.
However, it sounds as though Dodgers fans will not see Betts in the outfield again this season unless it is part of the Dodgers emptying the bench and having to move players around late in a game.