Watch Mookie Betts' Seamless First Play as a Shortstop for the Dodgers

Mookie came back to the Dodgers ready to change the game.
Watch Mookie Betts' Seamless First Play as a Shortstop for the Dodgers
Watch Mookie Betts' Seamless First Play as a Shortstop for the Dodgers /
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Mookie Betts got his wish in Chicago on Thursday night! He played shortstop at the major league level for the first time. After pinch hitting for Luke Williams in the top of the 7th, he stayed in the game at shortstop and finally got his test in the bottom of the 8th.

He made it look too easy.

With two on and nobody out, Mookie fielded a two-hopper to his left, stepped on the second base bag, jumped, and threw on to Freddie Freeman at first base to complete the 6-3 double play.

The play bailed Caleb Ferguson out of the tight situation and helped him secure the W in Chicago after the Dodgers took the lead in the top of the 9th on a James Outman grand slam home run.

After the game, Mookie called the moment a "dream come true." Adding to the gravity of the situation, he had just landed in Chigago a few hours before after rejoining the team following the birth of his second child. He had every reason to have a smile on his face but that smile just looked a little bit bigger after finally getting in a big league game at short.

"I think that’s his goal in life to be a major league shortstop," manager Dave Roberts said after the game.

It's just one play but he looks like he could maybe an honest to goodness option up the middle.


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Clint Pasillas
CLINT PASILLAS

Clint is the lead editor of Inside the Dodgers and personality on Dodgers Nation's network of programming. His work has been published on SI, DN, and Bleacher Report over the last decade.