Dodgers News: Mookie Betts Took Tim Anderson Under His Wing During WBC

"Mookie's the GOAT, man."

First things first, congratulations are in order for Team Japan for winning the country's third WBC championship. The game ended with the matchup of a lifetime with Shohei Ohtani facing Angels teammate Mike Trout. Shohei struck out Trout and got his first taste of success since before joining the Angels.

There it is! Japan wins the WBC for the 3rd time in history! 🇯🇵

🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/4iwSRlqU9D

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 22, 2023

Before the game, Team USA star Tim Anderson caught up with MLB Network and talked about his transition to second base for the tournament. As you would have heard at least a dozen times per game if you were watching, Anderson had never played the position before last week. The White Sox All-Star told analyst Harold Reynolds that he had a lot of people to thank for learning the position. Especially Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts.

“I’ve been working with everybody. And I’ve been taking a little bit of information from Trea (Turner), I’ve been taking a little bit of information from Jeff (McNeil). And Mookie, Mookie. Mookie the goat, man. Mookie the goat. Yeah, he's been giving me a lot of information. So it’s just very cool to be around a lot of different guys.”

"I've been taking a little bit of information from Trea [Turner]... and Mookie's the GOAT."

Tim Anderson is playing second base for the first time and credits his teammates with helping him get comfortable.@USABaseball | @WBCBaseball | #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/8Yv5LL8AF8

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 21, 2023

Watching T.A. throughout the tournament, you might not have known it was his first time playing on the other side of the bag. He's played 766 career games as a shortstop for Chicago where he's been a solid defender for 7 big league seasons.

Team USA may have lost the WBC, but it wasn't because of Tim Anderson playing second base. And for Dodgers fans, the idea of Anderson and Mookie working together sounds like a dream. Hopefully, they can continue the partnership in LA this summer.