MESA, Arizona— Mookie Betts averted his eyes and paused to find the correct word order to make his point in the Dodgers’ visiting clubhouse.
“This is not a revenge tour,” Betts told USA TODAY Sports. “Proving many people wrong. More importantly, it’s about proving myself right.
“For years, I didn’t believe in myself.”
Betts is an eight-time right fielder All-Star. Six-time Gold Glove winner. Seven-time Silver Slugger. Winner of MVP. Batting champion. Most important to Betts is his three-time World Series win.
Still insufficient.
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Betts, 32, wants to prove he can be a World Series champion shortstop.
“Why would he want to?” remarked Manny Machado, San Diego Padres Gold Glove third baseman. “I don’t know, man, his goal is crazy. A Gold Glover. His outfielding is great. Why take on such a difficult role? So much strain on your body.”
Everything is known by Betts. He was a kid shortstop. He was draughted by Boston as a shortstop. He failed to finish a pro season as a shortstop before transferring to second base and right field for the Red Sox.
“I think I would have been pretty brilliant,” Betts adds, “but I never had the chance. I couldn’t throw then. No one taught me throwing then. Personally, I didn’t think I could.
“I was not taught positivity.”
Couldn’t he fight?
“I’m 18,” he said. “They’ll direct you.”
Betts is determined to prove he can be the shortstop he always wanted 11 years after his major-league debut.
“When I was moved to right field, I believed in myself and did well,” Betts remarked. So I’m using the same idea. This is my chance.
He believes he can accomplish it this time, unlike his adolescent years, and the organisation does too.
“Mookie is Mookie, the best athlete I’ve seen,” says Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy. “He looks great outside. He’s looking more natural.
Mookie is unique. He enjoys such challenges. He loves it. Nobody doubts he’ll be a great defensive shortstop when you see him having so much joy striving to be the best.”
A year ago, Betts came into camp as a second baseman, ditching right field, but shortstop Gavin Lux struggled three weeks into spring training. Betts played shortstop for the first time since 2012 in Class A. Betts played 65 games at shortstop, made nine mistakes, fractured his wrist, and returned to right field.
He sometimes looked awkward. His footing was poor. He made the essential plays, but eight throws went wrong. His progress was slow.
He arrived at camp ready to be a star shortstop. He focused on transitioning throughout winter. He visited former Gold Glove shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, a University of Texas assistant coach, for three days. He worked with Dodgers coach Chris Woodward on arm slots and defensive angles in Arizona. In Los Angeles, he took ground balls practically daily at area high schools.
He looked “two levels better” at camp than last year, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Let’s face it—I don’t know what he can’t do “San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts, his former Red Sox teammate, stated. He’s an athlete, man. He bowls. Can golf. Can play basketball. The man can accomplish everything.
We could have used him at second base, but Dustin Pedroia was there. So he excelled in right field. His desire to return to the infield has always been there.”
Betts spoke with Dodgers GM Brandon Gomes, Andrew Friedman, and Roberts in the offseason. He insisted on trying again. He was encouraged by the Dodgers, and Betts’ return to shortstop made room for Michael Conforto and Teoscar Hernandez.
Betts joined Muncy and backup shortstop Miguel Rojas two weeks early to prepare defensively. Never a day goes by without Betts asking Rojas for advice or receiving coaching.
Rojas told Betts to contact him any time of day or night to chat about the position after their spring-training game against the Cubs. They talked about footwork and throwing for over 10 minutes.
“I think his bat makes him one of the top 10 shortstops,” Rojas added. “Not everything will go well, but he looks so much more comfortable. Now he has experience. He may work on it offseason. He never stopped improving.
“He wants to be a world-class player, and what he’s doing is amazing.
Betts could become the 22nd player since 1900 to play at least 100 games in right field and shortstop, cementing his Cooperstown legacy.
“I don’t see why Mookie wouldn’t want to be the best player in baseball,” Roberts said.
“Playing shortstop with his bat gives him a greater opportunity.”
Betts already has one of the best resumes, but to make the All-Star team as a shortstop after 12 years would be extraordinary.
You can make it mean whatever you want’, Betts remarked, “but it’d be cooler than anything. I appreciate the All-Star team, but I no longer care about the honours. I can look back later, but I want five or six rings. I play because of that.
“If that means going left field one day, I will. Go to second if necessary. My age is 32. Wherever I go, I trust myself.
Betts won’t protest if the Dodgers want him at second base or right field.
Friedman called Mookie “the most selfless superstar we’ve ever seen.”
Betts will play shortstop throughout his career if he gets his way. Derek Jeter played shortstop at 40, so why not Betts? He spent all winter training for shortstop, not just in 2025 but beyond.
“Yes,” Betts responds. I think I’ll keep improving. I trust me.”
Everyone does today, 14 years after being draughted as a shortstop from Overton High School in Nashville.
“I just feel so prepared now,” Betts says. I can go home and sleep instead of watching video all day to figure things out. I’m giving it my all so I can sleep knowing my effort prepared me for any curveballs.
“I can do this. I actually do.