Wild West: D-backs up, Dodgers down in MLB Power Rankings
They’ve been ahead in the standings for a while — now the Arizona Diamondbacks have at last leapfrogged the Los Angeles Dodgers in our MLB Power Rankings.
That’s only part of a wild week for the National League West, though, which sends a third team into our top 10 — the red-hot San Francisco Giants.
At the top the our list, the Tampa Bay Rays hold fast at No. 1, but the Atlanta Braves are hot on their heels, passing the Texas Rangers to take over the second spot.
Our expert panel has combined to rank every team in baseball based on a combination of what we’ve seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts David Schoenfield, Bradford Doolittle, Jesse Rogers, Alden Gonzalez and Joon Lee to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.
Record: 52-25
Previous ranking: 1
The Rays lost a series to the Padres and were shut out for just the fourth time this season, by a combination of their former ace Blake Snell and a series of relievers. As it currently stands, Wander Franco leads all position players in bWAR (3.8) — ranking ahead of other young stars like Corbin Carroll, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuna Jr. and Bo Bichette. — Joon Lee
Record: 47-26
Previous ranking: 3
After going 3-0 with a 1.80 ERA in April and jumping to the lead in Cy Young betting odds, Spencer Strider has faced adversity for the first time in his major league career. He did have his best start since April on Tuesday, allowing one run with nine K’s in a win over the Phillies, but he still has a 5.10 ERA in 10 starts over the past two months. The strikeout rate remains incredible (87 in 54.2 innings), but he’s allowed a .250/.321/.467 batting line, including 11 home runs. The main culprit has been fastball location: Major leaguers will tee off on a 98-mph fastball if it’s down the middle. You do wonder if he’ll have to start mixing in his changeup more and not rely so much on just a two-pitch arsenal. He is throwing it 6.7% of the time, a slight increase from last season, and it’s been effective, as batters are 4-for-19 with 10 strikeouts against it. Let’s see what adjustments he makes. — David Schoenfield
Record: 46-28
Previous ranking: 2
The Rangers’ hold on the top spot in the AL West is as strong as ever as they rebounded from a series loss to the Angels to take two of three from the Blue Jays. Their biggest controversy last week revolved around an overturned out call at home plate, where Jonah Heim was charged with a blocking violation. The call led to a roller coaster 7-6 loss to the White Sox. But it wasn’t a devastating defeat, as Texas is showing no signs of slowing down. Neither is Corey Seager — who had a big week at the plate, compiling an OPS over 1.100 including a .423 batting average. — Jesse Rogers
Record: 45-28
Previous ranking: 5
Baltimore just faced a big test this week, squaring off against the Tampa Bay Rays, taking the first game of the two-game series, before dropping the second. Catcher Adley Rutschman had a strong week, hitting two homers. Meanwhile, Yennier Cano continues to put together a strong season for Baltimore, leading all of the team’s pitchers in bWAR. In every division except for the AL East and NL East, Baltimore would be in first place. — Lee
Record: 45-30
Previous ranking: 7
Fred Lynn (1975) and Ichiro Suzuki (2001) are the only players to ever win Rookie of the Year and MVP in the same year. Corbin Carroll might make a run at that, though. The D-backs’ dynamic outfielder was slashing .304/.386/.596 through his first 70 games, leading the National League in OPS while adding 16 home runs and 19 stolen bases. The D-backs have held first place for 16 consecutive days and seem poised for their first playoff appearance in six years, and Carroll — along with the electric Zac Gallen — stands as one of the biggest reasons. — Alden Gonzalez
Record: 41-33
Previous ranking: 4
The Dodgers have suffered a litany of injuries throughout their rotation, with Julio Urias, Dustin May and Noah Syndergaard all on the shelf. Their bullpen, meanwhile, has struggled mightily, entering the week with the second-highest ERA in the sport. The one constant through the turmoil has been Clayton Kershaw, just like it always has been. Kershaw pitched seven scoreless innings against the Angels on Tuesday night, providing his team with a much-needed victory on the heels of getting swept by the rival Giants. His ERA is down to 2.72 and, just as important, he is the one Dodgers starter who has not missed a turn through the rotation. Not bad for a 35-year-old in his 16th season. — Gonzalez
Record: 41-34
Previous ranking: 6
The Astros are finding life without Yordan Alvarez to be fraught. Houston dropped five straight after Alvarez headed to the IL with a strained oblique, scoring one run in three of the defeats and just three in another. The streak was finally snapped on Tuesday, when Framber Valdez outdueled old Houston pal Justin Verlander in a win over the Mets. But the offensive woes began even before Alvarez was injured, and the sooner Houston gets a few stalwarts like Jose Altuve and Jeremy Pena rolling, the better. That’s because during this downturn, Houston didn’t just lose ground to the front-running Rangers in the AL West but were passed up by the hard-charging Angels, dropping the defending champs into third place. Obviously it’s way, way too soon to sound the alarm bells, but we can say that nearly halfway through the campaign, the dynastic Astros have often not played very Astros-like. — Bradford Doolittle
Record: 41-33
Previous ranking: 8
Yankees fans are inching toward the panic button after a weekend series sweep against the Red Sox, with much of the complaints centering around the team’s offense, or lack thereof. Third baseman Josh Donaldson has received significant criticism for struggling to generate much of anything at the plate since coming off the injured list. Aaron Judge appears to be progressing after suffering a toe injury and Harrison Bader returned Tuesday after his second injured list stint of the season, but the questions about the lineup’s depth remain. — Lee
Record: 42-32
Previous ranking: 18
Don’t look now, but the Giants are suddenly one of baseball’s hottest teams. They swept the Cardinals and the Dodgers on the road last week, then won three straight against the Padres at home, overcoming a two-run deficit in the ninth inning on Monday and a two-run deficit in the seventh inning on Tuesday. They’ve now won 10 in a row, keeping them a game ahead of the Dodgers for second place in the NL West. Since the start of last week, they’re allowing less than three runs per game and scoring more than seven runs per game. Yep, they look like a playoff team again. — Gonzalez
Record: 41-35
Previous ranking: 11
The Angels had played some of their best baseball recently, winning 11 of 14 before getting shut out on back-to-back nights by the Dodgers. But their infield depth has been severely compromised of late. Anthony Rendon went back on the injured list with a bruise on his wrist on Monday, joining Gio Urshela and Zach Neto on the shelf, with Urshela expected to miss the rest of the season with a fractured pelvis. Rendon, at least, could be back relatively soon. But the Angels will need the likes of Brandon Drury, Hunter Renfroe, Taylor Ward and Mickey Moniak to carry a significant load around Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani if they hope to remain in playoff contention. — Gonzalez
Record: 42-33
Previous ranking: 14
Luis Arraez‘s chase for .400 appeared to end last week when he went 0-for-12 in a three-game stretch to drop to .378, but he followed that up with 5-for-5 games on Friday and Monday to climb back up to an even .400. That gave him three 5-for-5 games in June, the first player with three such games in one calendar month since Tony Gwynn in June of 1984 (Ty Cobb and George Sisler are the only others to do it). Meanwhile, rookie starter Eury Perez continues to impress and his Tuesday outing was maybe his best yet, with six scoreless innings against the Blue Jays (although the Marlins lost 2-0). He fanned nine with no walks and has now allowed no runs in four of his past five starts, lowering his ERA to 1.54 through eight career starts. — Schoenfield
Record: 41-35
Previous ranking: 9
Starting pitcher Jose Berrios struggled against the Marlins on Monday, but is still having a strong comeback season, highlighted by a gem last week in Baltimore. Yusei Kikuchi also had a strong week, allowing just two runs across 10⅔ innings pitched, striking out 13 while walking just two. Toronto’s offense did take a hit, with catcher Alejandro Kirk going on the injured list with a lacerated hand. In his place, though, Danny Jansen hit three homers in seven games. — Lee
Record: 38-35
Previous ranking: 17
An impressive 6-1 road trip to Arizona and Oakland completed a stretch where the Phillies went 13-2 and won five straight series — perhaps saving their season in the process. Leading the way on offense during that 15-game stretch: J.T. Realmuto (.292, 5 HR, 11 RBIs, 1.129 OPS), Kyle Schwarber (.259, 7 HR, 14 RBIs, 1.067 OPS) and Bryson Stott (.333, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, .940 OPS). Trea Turner finally got it going a bit as well, hitting .295/.368/.443. On the pitching side, Taijuan Walker went 3-0 in three starts with a 0.45 ERA, and Ranger Suarez allowed two runs in 20 innings. — Schoenfield
Record: 40-35
Previous ranking: 22
The hottest team in baseball might also be the most entertaining. An 11-game win streak has vaulted the Reds into first place, and the stands are beginning to fill up at Great American Ballpark. Elly De La Cruz continued his dominance, but it was veteran Joey Votto‘s turn to shine as he finally made his season debut. A home run and a two-run, go-ahead single on Monday against the Rockies had the stadium rocking — as did Cruz’s opposite field home run the next night. With so much youth getting playing time, it’s hard to know if Cincinnati can keep it up for three more months, but the Reds are on the rise. — Rogers
Record: 39-36
Previous ranking: 13
Boston put together a strong week, sweeping the Yankees and pushing the team above the .500 mark. The Red Sox got back outfielder Adam Duvall, adding some slugging power to the lineup, but lost pitcher Tanner Houck indefinitely after he was hit in the face by a comebacker. Houck will undergo surgery to have a plate inserted to address his facial fracture, a big blow to a rotation that has struggled to find consistency this season. — Lee
Record: 35-39
Previous ranking: 15
The Padres were finally starting to build some momentum, winning four of six against the Guardians and the Rays during last week’s homestand. But then they lost three straight to the surging Giants in San Francisco, watching their bullpen blow back-to-back two-run leads the first two nights. If there’s one primary need for the Padres heading into the trade deadline, it’s more high-leverage relievers to help form the bridge to closer Josh Hader. But if they don’t get it together quickly, Hader — a free agent at season’s end — might be the one used as a trade chip to help fortify some depth for 2024. They’re running out of time. — Gonzalez
Record: 38-36
Previous ranking: 12
There’s a good chance many will forget about the Brewers in the division as the Cubs and Reds continue to garner the headlines. But there’s also a good chance Milwaukee will be there at the end, because the Brewers always have been under manager Craig Counsell. A weekend sweep of the Pirates helped right the ship as Milwaukee’s best feature is its ability to win in the division. If the Brewers’ current 11-5 mark is an indication of how they’ll play against rivals in the second half, they will be just fine. A four-game, July 4th-week matchup against the Cubs will have more meaning than it would have a month ago. — Rogers
Record: 37-38
Previous ranking: 10
The Twins seem intent on making history as the first sub-.500 first-place team to find itself in a MLB playoff bracket. They at least got Byron Buxton back on the field this week, at least in name if not performance. Buxton started 0-for-16 after being activated, increasing his overall skid to 0-for-24. Finally, he singled and walked in a blowout loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday. Alas, that same night, Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters that the strength of Buxton’s knee remains largely unchanged since the beginning of the season. That means his tenure as the most athletic DH in history looks like it’s going to continue indefinitely. But before the Twins can get back to worrying about that, they need him to get back to producing well enough at the plate to make the DH part of their Buxton plan effective. — Doolittle
Record: 35-37
Previous ranking: 16
The offensive struggles continue. Through Tuesday, the Mariners are 29th in the majors in batting average (.227), 24th in OBP (.308), 19th in home run rate (2.8%) … and second in highest strikeout rate (25.9%). And, no, this isn’t an “It’s hard to hit at T-Mobile Park” thing. The Mariners have a .693 OPS at home and .682 on the road. They’re actually 19th in runs per game as they’ve managed to hit .252 with runners in scoring position. With just a little more offense, the Mariners could still make a run. They’re actually 9-16 when getting six or fewer hits; only four teams have a better winning percentage when getting so few hits. — Schoenfield
Record: 34-40
Previous ranking: 20
As the Mets continue to struggle in June, it’s easy to point fingers at the starting rotation, which ranks 26th in the majors in ERA (5.26). Justin Verlander continues to alternate good outings with bad ones. Check out his runs allowed totals on the season: 2, 1, 6, 1, 6, 1, 5, 1, 4. Frankly, it’s a little bizarre, and he’s been given five days of rest between all his starts except one, but maybe his ability to bounce back at age 40 just isn’t there. It’s not like the offense has matched what it did in 2022 either, ranking ninth in the NL in runs, 12th in batting average and 11th in OBP. It’s been a team effort. — Schoenfield
Record: 36-38
Previous ranking: 24
The second hottest team in the NL Central is making a move up the standings as the Cubs passed the Pirates thanks to not one, but two three-game sweeps of them in the span of nine days. Pitching has been the name of the game for Chicago as a resurgent Kyle Hendricks is only being out-pitched by Cy Young candidate Marcus Stroman. The Stro Show, as it’s commonly known, is a throwback to the old days where there was no PitchCom nor detailed scouting reports. Stroman uses none of it — relying on catcher Tucker Barnhart to call the right pitch. Usually, it’s a sinker. And an effective one. His NL-leading 2.28 ERA is in large part thanks to that old-school approach. — Rogers
Record: 35-38
Previous ranking: 21
All through the injury- and performance-related upheaval in the Guardians’ starting rotation this season, the group has gotten younger and in some ways better. Ace Shane Bieber has been a constant, but he’s been the only one, as eight different pitchers have started at least five games for Cleveland. That list doesn’t include Triston McKenzie, who made two starts after coming off the IL before going right back on it because of elbow trouble that’s going to keep him out for a while. Through all the attrition, it’s been the kids (and Bieber) who have kept the Guardians afloat, emergent starters like Tanner Bibee and Logan T. Allen. Now, with McKenzie going, once again Cleveland looks to fill the void from within the organization. The club’s consensus top pitching prospect, Gavin Williams, was summoned from Triple-A to make his MLB debut on Wednesday in Oakland, trying to become the latest example of just how prolific the Cleveland pitching factory really is. — Doolittle
Record: 34-39
Previous ranking: 19
The Pirates’ freefall is in full swing, as they got swept twice by the Cubs in the span of nine days. In between, Pittsburgh lost three to the Brewers, its intra-division record plummeting during what is now a nine-game losing streak. The Pirates’ fall from grace was predictable, as their starting pitching wasn’t likely to last the season. They’ve dropped to 16th in ERA after hovering in the top 10 most of the year. Johan Oviedo struggled in his two starts last week, giving up six runs on 13 hits over 10.1 innings. The only question left for the Pirates might be can they avoid a penthouse-to-cellar move in the span of mere weeks? — Rogers
Record: 31-44
Previous ranking: 23
St. Louis is down to one thing in order to garner hope for the rest of the season: In 2021, they won 17 in a row in September to make the playoffs. It’s not likely to happen again, but it’s at least something to cling to, because the Cardinals have little else to be positive about. A team that never trades veterans mid-year, could be looking at doing just that as lefty Jordan Montgomery will be a free agent at season’s end. St. Louis won’t do a rebuild, but the Cards will need to do some retooling to their pitching staff if they want to contend again. At least Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado are still doing their thing at the plate. — Rogers
Record: 32-44
Previous ranking: 25
The season to date for the White Sox has been nothing if not repetitious, with the team stuck in a cycle of waiting for the impending return of this or that injured player just as another slips away to the IL, all while the team fends off one inquiry about underachieving play after another. The few celebratory moments that have pierced this swirl of mediocrity have tended to not resonate for long. This week, GM Rick Hahn spoke to the media about possible directions the club might take at the trade deadline. It was hard to glean much clarity based on those comments because there isn’t really much clarity to be had. The bottom line looks something like this: The only reason the White Sox haven’t been pegged as a sure-fire tear-down candidate is because the rest of teams in their division are as muddled as they are. So for the next four or five weeks, during which the ChiSox face one of MLB’s more difficult slates, the focus is on individual performances. Namely those who can or will be free agents — big-name players like Tim Anderson, Lance Lynn, Yasmani Grandal and Lucas Giolito. The tenor of the rest of the campaign hinges on the veterans, even if it’s to bolster their trade value as much as keep the White Sox in this race of tortoises. — Doolittle
Record: 32-41
Previous ranking: 28
The production for Miguel Cabrera has come on slowly this season, his last as an active player before he begins his five-year wait for Cooperstown. We won’t get many more chances to celebrate a Miggy hot streak, so we better take advantage of this one. And, indeed, Cabrera has been swinging well over the last month, with a .935 OPS over the last four weeks. That stretch included his first homer of the campaign, a joyous blast to left field against the Braves on June 14 for career No. 508. Cabrera has accomplished plenty, but a few more dingers will nudge him up on a couple of lists. He needs one to catch Gary Sheffield at No. 26 on the all-time list. After that is the historic cluster of Mel Ott (511), then Eddie Mathews and Ernie Banks (both 512). Getting to 513 would put Cabrera alone at No. 23 on the all-time list. Not bad. Also of note: He’s three homers behind Norm Cash on the Tigers’ franchise list. Cash’s 373 jacks are second in Detroit history behind Al Kaline’s 399. — Doolittle
Record: 28-45
Previous ranking: 26
The Nationals signed Keibert Ruiz to an eight-year, $50 million extension in March (with club options for 2031-32), obviously believing him to be the long-term answer behind the plate. The jury remains out on him, however, as the only consistent skill he’s showcased is his contact ability, but even that has yet to translate into a high average. Via Statcast measurements, he has a lot to improve on defense as he’s in the 15th percentile in pitch framing and way down near the bottom in pop time to second (base stealers are 58-for-69 against him). He’s just 24 and does have eight home runs after hitting just seven last season, so maybe the power and hit tool are still developing. — Schoenfield
Record: 29-48
Previous ranking: 27
The Rockies suffered a six-game losing streak earlier this month and are currently riding an eight-game skid. For the month, their starting rotation is pitching to a 7.09 ERA, by far the worst in the majors. German Marquez, Antonio Senzatela and Ryan Feltner are all on the injured list, and Chase Anderson, Austin Gomber and Dinelson Lamet have combined for 44 earned runs in 48⅔ innings. Things are quite dire. — Gonzalez
Record: 20-54
Previous ranking: 29
The Royals received more bad news last week as first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino went down for the season with a shoulder injury that requires surgery. While Pasquantino’s injury is irrelevant to the team’s non-existent playoff chances, it does cost him a few months of development time. A month ago, Pasquantino was one of the few bright spots around the club, but his performance began to wane gradually and then disappeared all at once. Pasquantino was hitting .298/.383/.539 through his first 38 games but fell to .167/.227/.278 over his last 23 contests. He managed a lone hit over his last 21 at-bats for the season. Nick Pratto will handle everyday duties at first base and will try to maintain what has been an encouraging showing after his first-season struggles. — Doolittle
Record: 19-57
Previous ranking: 30
Oakland raised its season-high winning streak to seven games, but then lost five straight games to close out the week. Something to watch for other teams: starter Paul Blackburn has been solid since returning from the injured list, and could be an interesting midseason acquisition to bolster a rotation. The displeasure with Athletics ownership continues to build as well, with movie star Tom Hanks speaking out against the potential move to Las Vegas, and fans clamoring for the Hollywood icon to buy the team. In response, said Hanks, “I haven’t done that well, guys.” — Lee
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Alden Gonzalez
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Sometime around mid-August last year, Mookie Betts convened with the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ coaches. He had taken stock of what transpired while he rehabbed a broken wrist, surveyed his team’s roster and accepted what had become plainly obvious: He needed to return to right field.
For the better part of five months, Betts had immersed himself in the painstaking task of learning shortstop in the midst of a major league season. It was a process that humbled him but also invigorated him, one he had desperately wanted to see through. On the day he gave it up, Chris Woodward, at that point an adviser who had intermittently helped guide Betts through the transition, sought him out. He shook Betts’ hand, told him how much he respected his efforts and thanked him for the work.
“Oh, it ain’t over yet,” Betts responded. “For now it’s over, but we’re going to win the World Series, and then I’m coming back.”
Woodward, now the Dodgers’ full-time first-base coach and infield instructor, recalled that conversation from the team’s spring training complex at Camelback Ranch last week and smiled while thinking about how those words had come to fruition. The Dodgers captured a championship last fall, then promptly determined that Betts, the perennial Gold Glove outfielder heading into his age-32 season, would be the every-day shortstop on one of the most talented baseball teams ever assembled.
From November to February, Betts visited high school and collegiate infields throughout the L.A. area on an almost daily basis in an effort to solidify the details of a transition he did not have time to truly prepare for last season.
Pedro Montero, one of the Dodgers’ video coordinators, placed an iPad onto a tripod and aimed its camera in Betts’ direction while he repeatedly pelted baseballs into the ground with a fungo bat, then sent Woodward the clips to review from his home in Arizona. The three spoke almost daily.
By the time Betts arrived in spring training, Woodward noticed a “night and day” difference from one year to the next. But he still acknowledges the difficulty of what Betts is undertaking, and he noted that meaningful games will ultimately serve as the truest arbiter.
The Dodgers have praised Betts for an act they described as unselfish, one that paved the way for both Teoscar Hernandez and Michael Conforto to join their corner outfield and thus strengthen their lineup. Betts himself has said his move to shortstop is a function of doing “what I feel like is best for the team.” But it’s also clear that shouldering that burden — and all the second-guessing and scrutiny that will accompany it — is something he wants.
He wants to be challenged. He wants to prove everybody wrong. He wants to bolster his legacy.
“Mookie wants to be the best player in baseball, and I don’t see why he wouldn’t want that,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I think if you play shortstop, with his bat, that gives him a better chance.”
ONLY 21 PLAYERS since 1900 have registered 100 career games in right field and 100 career games at shortstop, according to ESPN Research. It’s a list compiled mostly of lifelong utility men. The only one among them who came close to following Betts’ path might have been Tony Womack, an every-day right fielder in his age-29 season and an every-day shortstop in the three years that followed. But Womack had logged plenty of professional shortstop experience before then.
Through his first 12 years in professional baseball, Betts accumulated just 13 starts at shortstop, all of them in rookie ball and Low-A from 2011 to 2012. His path — as a no-doubt Hall of Famer and nine-time Gold Glove right fielder who will switch to possibly the sport’s most demanding position in his 30s — is largely without precedent. And yet the overwhelming sense around the Dodgers is that if anyone can pull it off, it’s him.
“Mookie’s different,” third baseman Max Muncy said. “I think this kind of challenge is really fun for him. I think he just really enjoys it. He’s had to put in a lot of hard work — a lot of work that people haven’t seen — but I just think he’s such a different guy when it comes to the challenge of it that he’s really enjoying it. When you look at how he approaches it, he’s having so much fun trying to get as good as he can be. There’s not really any question in anyone’s mind here that he’s going to be a very good defensive shortstop.”
Betts entered the 2024 season as the primary second baseman, a position to which he had long sought a return, but transitioned to shortstop on March 8, 12 days before the Dodgers would open their season from South Korea, after throwing issues began to plague Gavin Lux. Almost every day for the next three months, Betts put himself through a rigorous pregame routine alongside teammate Miguel Rojas and third-base coach Dino Ebel in an effort to survive at the position.
The metrics were unfavorable, scouts were generally unimpressed and traditional statistics painted an unflattering picture — all of which was to be expected. Simply put, Betts did not have the reps. He hadn’t spent significant time at shortstop since he was a teenager at Overton High School in Nashville, Tennessee. He was attempting to cram years of experience through every level of professional baseball into the space allotted to him before each game, a task that proved impossible.
Betts committed nine errors during his time at shortstop, eight of them the result of errant throws. He often lacked the proper footwork to put himself in the best position to throw accurately across the diamond, but the Dodgers were impressed by how quickly he seemed to grasp other aspects of the position that seemed more difficult for others — pre-pitch timing, range, completion of difficult plays.
Shortly after the Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees to win their first full-season championship since 1988, Betts sat down with Dodgers coaches and executives and expressed his belief that, if given the proper time, he would figure it out. And so it was.
“If Mook really wants to do something, he’s going to do everything he can to be an elite, elite shortstop,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said. “I’m not going to bet against that guy.”
THE FIRST TASK was determining what type of shortstop Betts would be. Woodward consulted with Ryan Goins, the current Los Angeles Angels infield coach who is one of Betts’ best friends. The two agreed that he should play “downhill,” attacking the baseball, making more one-handed plays and throwing largely on the run, a style that fit better for a transitioning outfielder.
During a prior stint on the Dodgers’ coaching staff, Woodward — the former Texas Rangers manager who rejoined the Dodgers staff after Los Angeles’ previous first-base coach, Clayton McCullough, became the Miami Marlins‘ manager in the offseason — implemented the same style with Corey Seager, who was widely deemed too tall to remain a shortstop.
“He doesn’t love the old-school, right-left, two-hands, make-sure-you-get-in-front-of-the-ball type of thing,” Woodward said of Betts. “It doesn’t make sense to him. And I don’t coach that way. I want them to be athletic, like the best athlete they can possibly be, so that way they can use their lower half, get into their legs, get proper direction through the baseball to line to first. And that’s what Mookie’s really good at.”
Dodger Stadium underwent a major renovation of its clubhouse space over the offseason, making the field unusable and turning Montero and Betts into nomads. From the second week of November through the first week of February, the two trained at Crespi Carmelite High School near Betts’ home in Encino, California, then Sierra Canyon, Los Angeles Valley College and, finally, Loyola High.
For a handful of days around New Year’s, Betts flew to Austin, Texas, to get tutelage from Troy Tulowitzki, the five-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner whose mechanics Betts was drawn to. In early January, when wildfires spread through the L.A. area, Betts flew to Glendale, Arizona, to train with Woodward in person.
Mostly, though, it was Montero as the eyes and ears on the ground and Woodward as the adviser from afar. Their sessions normally lasted about two hours in the morning, evolving from three days a week to five and continually ramping up in intensity. The goal for the first two months was to hone the footwork skills required to make a variety of different throws, but also to give Betts plenty of reps on every ground ball imaginable.
When January came, Betts began to carve out a detailed, efficient routine that would keep him from overworking when the games began. It accounted for every situation, included backup scenarios for uncontrollable events — when it rained, when there wasn’t enough time, when pregame batting practice stretched too long — and was designed to help Betts hold up. What was once hundreds of ground balls was pared down to somewhere in the neighborhood of 35, but everything was accounted for.
LAST YEAR, BETTS’ throws were especially difficult for Freddie Freeman to catch at first base, often cutting or sailing or darting. But when Freeman joined Betts in spring training, he noticed crisp throws that consistently arrived with backspin and almost always hit the designated target. Betts was doing a better job of getting his legs under him on batted balls hit in a multitude of directions. Also, Rojas said, he “found his slot.”
“Technically, talking about playing shortstop, finding your slot is very important because you’re throwing the ball from a different position than when you throw it from right field,” Rojas explained. “You’re not throwing the ball from way over the top or on the bottom. So he’s finding a slot that is going to work for him. He’s understanding now that you need a slot to throw the ball to first base, you need a slot to throw the ball to second base, you need a slot to throw the ball home and from the side.”
Dodgers super-utility player Enrique Hernandez has noticed a “more loose” Betts at shortstop this spring. Roberts said Betts is “two grades better” than he was last year, before a sprained left wrist placed him on the injured list on June 17 and prematurely ended his first attempt. Before reporting to spring training, Betts described himself as “a completely new person over there.”
“But we’ll see,” he added.
The games will be the real test. At that point, Woodward said, it’ll largely come down to trusting the work he has put in over the past four months. Betts is famously hard on himself, and so Woodward has made it a point to remind him that, as long as his process is sound, imperfection is acceptable.
“This is dirt,” Woodward will often tell him. “This isn’t perfect.”
The Dodgers certainly don’t need Betts to be their shortstop. If it doesn’t work out, he can easily slide back to second base. Rojas, the superior defender whose offensive production prompted Betts’ return to right field last season, can fill in on at least a part-time basis. So can Tommy Edman, who at this point will probably split his time between center field and second base, and so might Hyeseong Kim, the 26-year-old middle infielder who was signed out of South Korea this offseason.
But it’s clear Betts wants to give it another shot.
As Roberts acknowledged, “He certainly felt he had unfinished business.”
LAKELAND, Fla. — Detroit Tigers outfielder Akil Baddoo had surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand and will miss the start of the regular season.
Manager A.J. Hinch said Friday that Baddoo had more tests done after some continued wrist soreness since the start of spring training. Those tests revealed the hamate hook fracture in his right hand that was surgically repaired Thursday.
Baddoo, 26, who has been with the Tigers since 2021, is at spring training as a non-roster player. He was designated for assignment in December after Detroit signed veteran right-hander Alex Cobb to a $15 million, one-year contract. Baddoo cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo.
Cobb is expected to miss the start of the season after an injection to treat hip inflammation that developed as the right-hander was throwing at the start of camp. He has had hip surgery twice.
Baddoo hit .137 with two homers and five RBIs in 31 games last season. The left-hander has a .226 career average with 28 homers and 103 RBI in 340 games.
After the Tigers acquired him from Minnesota in the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in December 2020, Baddoo hit .259 with 13 homers, 55 RBIs, 18 stolen bases and a .330 on-base percentage in 124 games as a rookie in 2021. Those are all career bests.
Baddoo went into camp in a crowded outfield. The six outfielders on Detroit’s 40-man roster include three other left-handed hitters (Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter and Parker Meadows) and switch-hitter Wenceel Pérez. The other outfielders are right-handers Matt Vierling and Justyn-Henry Malloy.
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