Dodgers News: Mookie Betts Set to Play First Career Game at Shortstop

Manager Dave Roberts reveals the Dodgers are ready to open the door at shortstop for Mookie Betts.

The Dodgers' depth at shortstop has been tested early and often this season. The depth chart is so thin, it might lead to us seeing something for the first ever in the big leagues. Something that hasn't happened since the Low-A New York-Pennsylvania League in 2012. 

That's Mookie Betts at shortstop.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts shared the news that Betts could very well be slated to start at shortstop on Wednesday afternoon at Dodger Stadium to avoid veteran Miguel Rojas playing a day game after a night game.

“Yeah, there’s an opportunity… we’ll see… there’s a chance I might slide him over to short. It’s a possibility, we’ll see. … he’s been clamoring for quite some time, so we’ll see how it plays out.”

Dave Roberts said Mookie Betts will be in the lineup tomorrow — maybe at shortstop.

— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) April 18, 2023

On Tuesday, Mookie is away from the Dodgers while welcoming his second child along with his wife Brianna. He'll quickly return from the paternity list tomorrow and possibly get a long-time wish as a big league.

“The guy can play anywhere on a baseball field," Dave Roberts said. "I think were some reservations about him playing second base last year and he quickly put those to bed.”

Betts has played 14 total games as a professional, all in 2011 and 2012 as an 18 and 19 year old. But he takes groundballs daily at the position and could help the Dodgers with their outfield logjam if he works out well at the position.

Not that he's expected to play there a whole bunch.