GLENDALE, Ariz. — With two weeks left until their opening series against the Padres in Seoul, South Korea, the Dodgers have made a change at shortstop.
From the winter until entering camp, the Dodgers relied on Gavin Lux for most of the responsibilities at shortstop. However, Lux's poor pitching continued this spring, and the Dodgers are now entrusting the keys to that position to Mookie Betts, who entered the season as the club's starting second baseman.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the move to use the 2023 National League Most Valuable Player as shortstop is “permanent for the time being.” Betts started at shortstop in the Dodgers' Cactus League game on Friday and is scheduled to play four more games at that position before departing for South Korea.
“Making this move now is what our entire organization feels is the right thing to do to prevent runs and give us the best chance to win baseball games,” Roberts said Friday. “As far as Gavin, I think it gives him a chance to go to the other side of the diamond, and he's actually played more as a second baseman than shortstop the last few years. To get him back to normal, shortening his throws would put less stress on his entire body and give him a better chance of success.”
The decision to move Betts to shortstop was not something the organization considered entering camp this spring. But as we watched Lux struggle in game situations this spring, concerns about whether he could handle the demands of the position continued to grow.
Even after Lux committed two errors in his first two chances this spring, the Dodgers were willing to write it off as rust on the former top prospect. In the end, Lux missed the entire 2023 season due to extensive right knee surgery to repair torn ACL and LCL. But those concerns grew even louder on Wednesday, when Lux's pitching woes were on full display.
Lux had a throwing error, but also had two bounced throws that were scooped up by first baseman Freddie Freeman. In 2019, Lux also struggled to throw on the diamond. The Dodgers believe that making this move early this spring will allow Lux to play free and not impact an offense that has looked solid in Cactus League play.
“Part of the job is to genuinely care about the players and their health and mental, emotional and physical success,” Roberts said. “And on a larger scale as a team, we're talking about what gives the team the best chance of not conceding goals, especially defense.”
Roberts said talks with Lux and Betts took place Thursday and both players agreed to the decision, but the Dodgers manager said there was understandable disappointment in Lux, who has been preparing to be the team's shortstop all offseason. I admitted that.
“The conversation was great,” said Betts, who called Lux after his meeting with Roberts. “We're all on the same page here. We don't care what happens. We just want to win. We don't care how we actually get there. The most important thing is winning. As for me, I don't care. I really don't care. I've said this a million times. I just want to win. No matter where you put me. Fine. As long as I'm on the diamond, I'm just going to do the best I can and then see what happens.”
The Dodgers could have started Miguel Rojas at shortstop, but that would have been a significant downgrade offensively. Moving Betts, who played 16 games in that position last season, to shortstop allows the Dodgers to keep both Betts and Lux in the lineup, which they believe is the best alignment for them. Of course, Lux will also be the team's starting second baseman in 2022.
Roberts also made it clear that Betts at shortstop is not a platoon situation. Betts will play shortstop most nights, and Lux will play second base against right-handed pitchers. It's a drastic change, especially at this point in the spring, but the Dodgers believe it's necessary to be at their best this season.
“It's definitely a change. But it's also fun,” Betts said. “You can't put any more pressure on it. It's always a lot of pressure — especially going to the Dodgers and being a Dodger is a lot of pressure. So being a Dodger and being a shortstop for the Dodgers is a lot of pressure. . But I like it.”
