Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts had no hits in just two games and no RBIs in seven games in early April. His start to the season has been surprising to say the least.
Betts, a six-time Gold Glove Award-winning right fielder, will move to second base during the winter and then shortstop, hoping to win another Gold Glove Award.
Before every game, he and infield coach Dino Eber put himself through a rigorous pregame routine. He handled dozens of ground balls that were hit in all directions and at varying paces, resulting in throws to first base and double plays.
“I swear to you, I've never seen him in his entire career how hard he works and how much he accomplishes,” Ebel told the LA Times. “This guy to me is the Michael Jordan, the Kobe Bryant of baseball, because he’s obsessed with getting things done.
“He not only wants to prove everyone wrong, he wants to prove to himself that he can play in that position. And what he's doing now is remarkable because he He's not in the batter's box and he's not tired. And he's here every day.”
Defensively, he started 15 games as a shortstop and committed just two errors in 65 total chances.
Ebel said the team's strength and conditioning coach monitors Betts daily to make sure he's not overexerting himself. Betts may need to taper off his pregame routine as the season progresses, but that time hasn't arrived yet.
“Yeah, it’s definitely balanced, but it’s not without effort,” Betts said. “That's me. I'm always going to work. I end up working too much before I have time to rest. I just need to understand that.”
Betts has a .369 batting average, 1.137 on-base/slugging percentage, six home runs, five doubles, 18 RBIs, and 22 RBIs in 21 games.
