The Mookie Betts experiment at shortstop goes to make a return throughout spring coaching.
The Los Angeles stay assured that Betts will likely be their Opening Day shortstop, anticipating that an offseason of labor with new first-base coach Chris Woodward will result in defensive enhancements — one thing troublesome to attain throughout his temporary stint on the place final season.
“I really feel like I’m only a fully new individual on the market,” Betts mentioned of his work on the place this winter throughout Fest on Saturday.
basic supervisor Brandon Gomes made Betts’ transfer again to the infield official in the course of the Winter Conferences, asserting Betts was going to be given a chance on the place once more.
“He’s prepared for the problem,” Gomes mentioned. “He appears like, with a full offseason, he can go and sort out that. Like we’ve mentioned earlier than, he’s one of many guys that I actually wouldn’t wager towards.”
Betts, a six-time Gold Glove winner in proper area, transitioned to second base throughout spring coaching final yr, then shifted to shortstop to begin the season earlier than returning to proper area on Aug. 12 after recovering from a fractured hand.
Extra information: Former Purple Sox Exec: Mookie Betts Might Have Stayed if Boston Supplied Deferrals Like
He began 61 video games at shortstop, committing 9 errors — eight on throws. The consider that with extra expertise and a full offseason to organize, he can thrive defensively on the place.
“I believe with Mook what was most spectacular, if you happen to have a look at the entire most difficult components of the place, he does rather well. And the place he struggled was throwing,” Gomes mentioned. “You go watch him in proper area it’s top-of-the-line arms within the sport. It’s extremely correct.
“So these issues which might be most difficult to show — getting off the ball, vary, making distinctive performs, his pre-pitch timing — he nailed these. It was actually syncing up his throw from that as a result of he’s been so used to the outfield throw. So I believe that’ll be nearly all of his work is how does he entry what’s an elite arm and have that translate to the infield.”
With Betts penciled in at quick, Tommy Edman will play extra heart area. Hyeseong Kim will almost definitely play second base and Miguel Rojas will return to his utility backup function. The identical goes for Chris Taylor.
Extra information: Mookie Betts Calls Becoming a member of ‘Greatest Factor That’s Ever Occurred’ in His Life
Picture Credit score: Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters through USA TODAY Sports activities
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