Dodgers’ Mookie Betts On Lineup Change: ‘Whatever Shohei Says, Goes’

Mookie Betts has been a regular at the top of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ lineup for most of the past five seasons.

That will change on Monday when he bats second.

Since Betts went down with a fractured hand in mid-June, Shohei Ohtani has been batting in the leadoff position and according to manager Dave Roberts , he will stay there when Betts returns to the team next week.

Betts understands the move.

“I mean, I can’t say I’m better than Shohei,” Betts quipped Wednesday. “There’s nothing really you can say. Whatever Shohei says goes, and after that we kind of fall in line.”

The change will force Betts to adjust.

“Yeah, for sure,” he said. “Big difference. Huge difference.”

While fielding questions from reporters, Betts didn’t specifically oppose the change. He just acknowledged that he will “be ready to go.”

“When the lights turn on, it doesn’t matter,” he said . “You gotta be ready to go. And I’ll be ready to go.”

Betts has been leading the Dodgers’ offense since he came to town via trade from the Boston Red Sox. He has 52 career leadoff home runs (fifth-most in MLB history). Of his 530 career starts with the Dodgers, 507 have come as the leadoff hitter.

The last time Betts was moved out of the top spot was Sept. 2021, after the Dodgers acquired Trea Turner .

Ohtani has thrived since Betts’ injury and while his batting average has been as high, his slugging numbers are through the roof. The designated hitter has 15 home runs and collected 35 runs batted in while having a superb 1.095 OPS in his last 41 games (he had a .976 OPS previously, when he primarily batted second).

“I think that it’s hard to argue Shohei starting the game off in the one,” Roberts said Tuesday. “I just feel that as great as Mookie is, Shohei really has the chance to change the game from the first pitch.”

When Betts returns, he will be the team’s shortstop. Reports about where he would play said the team could move him back to second base or possibly right field. The native Tennessean doesn’t care what position he plays.

“My tone hasn’t changed,” he said. “I just want to win.”

Photo Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

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