Earlier this season, fans were worried when Mookie Betts missed the Dodgers’ two-game series against the Cubs in Tokyo due to a severe stomach illness that caused him to lose 20 pounds. But those worries quickly faded when he showed signs of getting back.
While the Dodgers went through a mini-slump due to injuries, Betts continued to carry the team. But now that other stars, including Max Muncy and Michael Conforto, have returned to form, Betts has fallen into a slump of his own.
Heading into the weekend, Mookie Betts was hitting just .162 in his last 10 games before the Dodgers swept the Rockies. He finally had a multi-hit game in the series opener, but overall, Betts’ numbers are still down. He is currently batting .256 with a .335 on-base percentage and .392 slugging percentage, all of which are his career lows.
MOOKIE BETTS WALK-OFF HOMER! UNBELIEVABLE! pic.twitter.com/PpYP5FpVcd
— MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2025
Still, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts isn’t sounding the alarm. While earlier, he admitted that Betts’ struggles were surprising, he has now made it clear there are no plans to drop Mookie Betts from the No. 2 spot in the lineup.
“I am. I think we all are,” Roberts said when asked whether Betts’ slump is surprising. “None more surprised than Mookie himself.”
“But he’s playing great shortstop, a premium position. He’s doing it at short. So I just feel that the bat is gonna come back to life.”
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Is Shortstop Slowing Down Mookie Betts? Roberts Doesn’t Think So
Many experts believe Betts’s position shift from outfield to shortstop has been one of the reason behind his struggle at the plate, however Roberts has denied that notion.
“I’m gonna hold to no,” Roberts said. “I think it’s a fair debate. But all I can go with is what Mookie is saying, as far as the separation of the hitting to the defense, the comfort level with the defense. There’s no anxiety. The confidence Mookie Betts has with the defense. And where he is stronger than he has been in quite some time, as far as physicalness, he is healthy. So I don’t think there’s a correlation.”
The Dodgers will continue the series against Kansas City on Saturday at Kauffman Stadium and hope to see Mookie break his slump. Despite his struggles, Betts launched a walk-off home run on his return.
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