Major League Baseball

Could Mookie Betts play shortstop for the Dodgers?

Updated Apr. 19, 2023 9:32 p.m. ET

LOS ANGELES — Mookie Betts is welcoming his second child to the world. When he returns from the paternity list, it’s possible another change awaits in his professional life.

It’s not written in stone, but there is at least a chance the six-time Gold Glove Award-winning right fielder gets time at shortstop for the shorthanded Dodgers.

"He’s been clamoring for quite some time," manager Dave Roberts said Tuesday. "So, we’ll see how it plays out."

At the time Roberts spoke, he expected Betts to be back in the lineup Wednesday. That, however, didn’t happen. Betts has not yet been activated off the paternity list. Players can take up to three days, and if Betts chooses to use all three, he also could miss Thursday’s series opener in Chicago.

The Dodgers’ shortstop situation was particularly murky on Wednesday, which made the possibility of Betts starting the series finale against the Mets more plausible.

The player they expected to start at the position all year, Gavin Lux, was lost for the season to a torn ACL in spring. By then, the Dodgers had already traded for former Marlins starting shortstop Miguel Rojas, and Rojas and Chris Taylor have manned the spot in Los Angeles all year.

But Rojas has missed five games this month with a groin issue, and Taylor departed Monday’s game with a side issue. Not wanting to press Rojas with soft-tissue ailments the day after a night game, it raised the possibility of Betts starting at shortstop on Wednesday afternoon.

"I think that today was just an opportunity given both those guys’ status," Roberts said Wednesday morning. "As we look out, it’s a possibility, but today was more of a viable option."

Betts came up through the minor-league ranks as a middle infielder, but he has not played a professional game at shortstop in more than a decade.

Still, it’s a common occurrence to see Betts hours before games at Dodger Stadium taking grounders across the infield. He was primarily a second baseman as a prospect in the Boston system but moved to right field to fast-track his progress to the major leagues while Dustin Pedroia manned the position for the Red Sox.

Betts developed into arguably baseball’s best outfielder. His 127 defensive runs saved in right field since his debut in 2014 lead all major-league right fielders.

He said this spring that "he’s got to win some more hardware out there," but his enjoyment playing the infield has never dissipated. The Dodgers gave him five starts at second base last season. This year, injuries and depth have dictated that Betts help out more at the position. He has made four starts at second base and 13 in right field.

"He looks extremely natural," Roberts said. "The guy can play anywhere on a baseball field. So, I think there was some reservations about him playing second base last year, and he quickly put those to bed."

But Betts has yet to log a major-league inning at shortstop, where he made 12 starts in low-A in 2012.

The chance of that happening with the Dodgers at least decreased a bit over the past 24 hours. Luke Williams, who was called up when Betts was placed on the paternity list, is starting at the position Wednesday.

On Tuesday night, Rojas hurt his hamstring and was placed on the injured list, prompting the Dodgers to bring up another shortstop option in Yonny Hernández. The Dodgers are also hopeful Taylor, who was throwing on the field pregame Wednesday, could return by this weekend.

If Taylor’s not ready, though, the Dodgers could get creative with Betts. Roberts is not concerned about a greater health risk for Betts playing shortstop and said he will do what gives the Dodgers the best chance to win.

"To have Mookie as your third string at anything," Roberts said, "I think teams can be doing a lot worse."

Rowan Kavner covers the Dodgers and NL West for FOX Sports. He previously was the Dodgers’ editor of digital and print publications. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.

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