Cody Snavely
For the third straight season, perhaps the most significant question surrounding the Los Angeles Dodgers is the shortstop position after losing all-star Corey Seager and Trea Turner in free agency in back-to-back offseasons.
The Dodgers will turn to Mookie Betts again in their search for a full-time productive shortstop after giving the 2018 American League Most Valuable Player Award winner the reins last season on short notice.
With no former top prospect in Gavin Lux on the roster and an aging Miguel Rojas, Betts seems to be the team’s “best” option. But how will 2025 compare to 2024?
How Will Mookie Betts Fare at Shortstop in Year Two?
With only two weeks left until the start of the 2024 Major League Baseball regulars season, the Los Angeles Dodgers made a shocking decision to move all-star Mookie Betts to shortstop after he had been preparing all winter to be the full-time second baseman.
It was a hasty decision that was also unorthodox for a Dodgers front office that was so analytically driven and had many situations planned out. What they had not planned out was for Gavin Lux to develop the yips, forcing their hand to make the quick move.
So, that was it. Mookie Betts was not the team’s everyday shortstop as they had to Seoul, Korea, to kick off the season, and he would remain there until a mid-summer wrist injury would force the then 2024 National League MVP favorite to the 15-day Injured List.
Offensively, Betts was arguably the best shortstop in baseball during the first half of the regular season with a .304/.405/.488 slash line, .892 OPS, ten home runs, and forty RBIs in seventy-two games.
However, the defense was a massive issue. In 531.1 innings at shortstop this past season, Betts had a -4 OAA (Outs Above Average), a career-worst nine errors (eight throwing), a .963 fielding percentage, and a 76% success rate in 217 attempts.
The defensive woes and the acquisition of utilityman Tommy Edman from the St. Louis Cardinals allowed the Dodgers to place Betts back in his natural position in right field until the end of the season.
Overall, Betts finished the season with a .289/.372/.491 slash line, .863 OPS, 141 wRC+, 11.0% K%, his lowest since 2017 (11.1%), 4.4 fWAR, along with conquering his postseason demons, posting a 150 wRC+ en route to his third career World Series win.
With a whole offseason to work on the position with an emphasis on his throws, there is no telling what the Dodgers will have with Betts until he is seen on the field during live games. But it would be unwise to bet against him.
FanGraphs projects Betts to have another outstanding season with a .280/.374/.495 slash line, .869 OPS, 143 wRC+, twenty-eight home runs, ninety-four RBIs, and fifteen stolen bases.
If Betts can smooth the transition in 2025 and produce a great offensive showing, even with the great Shohei Ohtani on his team, he will undoubtedly be in the MVP discussion as he was last season before his injury.
Other Options
Logically, if Mookie Betts is injured or is moved away from shortstop like last season, the following alternative would be 36-year-old veteran utility infielder Miguel Rojas, who has filled in as the Dodgers’ “primary” shortstop in back-to-back seasons.
Despite his age, Rojas has remained one of the most underappreciated fielders in baseball. He posted a .993 fielding percentage and ranked in the 90th percentile in Fielding Run Value and 97th percentile in OAA with twelve.
Last season, Rojas was no stringer with the bat. He had one of the best offensive seasons of his career, hitting .283/.337/.410 with a respectable .748 OPS and an above-league average 111 wRC+, which, paired with his defense, produced 2.8 fWAR.
While Rojas is projected to take a step back offensively in 2025 via FanGraphs, he still remains an elite fielder and is more than capable of filling in for Mookie Betts on off days or as a late-inning defensive replacement.
Two other options internally for the Dodgers to possibly fill in some innings at shortstop are utilityman Tommy Edman and recently signed Korean infielder Hyeseong Kim; both are expected to play all over the diamond this season.
If the Mookie Betts shortstop plan fails externally, there are not many options on the trade market as most of the all-star shortstops are locked up to long-term deals with their respective clubs. However, one avenue the Dodgers could explore is a mid-season acquisition of Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette, but that is a conversation for another day.
Overall, Betts entered the 2025 season as one of the best overall shortstops in the game, but with the questions on his defense still in the air, I’ll give the Dodgers a respectable A- here.
DodgersBeat Grade A-
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