Mookie Betts Reflects and Revives His Swing Amid Struggles
LOS ANGELES — Amid the toughest stretch of his career, Mookie Betts took a moment to reflect. The shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers looked back to his early days in the Boston Red Sox system, attempting to retrain his swing that earned him MVP honors and allowed him to hit 30 home runs in multiple seasons, despite being officially listed at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds.
Throughout this prolonged offensive slump, Betts explored various approaches to end his struggles. “It’s up to God at this point,” he remarked during a stretch of 22 consecutive at-bats without a hit, the longest such drought of his career. “I’ve never been this bad for this long,” he stated earlier this month, a sentiment echoed by his statistics.
In his pursuit of improvement, Betts turned to the past, trying anything to break free from his slump. Even former Dodgers player J.D. Martinez visited while the team played in Tampa, offering encouragement and swing tips; however, Betts remained hitless during that series. His slide continued into August, yet he maintained his spot near the top of the Dodgers’ lineup, a decision backed by manager Dave Roberts to reaffirm confidence in his star player.
Recently, Betts has begun to show signs of recovery. He snapped his hitless streak with a three-hit game against the Cardinals, followed by a double the next day. On Friday, he hit his first home run in over a month, contributing to a 5-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, showcasing the swing he had been striving to regain.
Remarkably, Betts has shifted his mindset, stating, “This season’s over. My season’s kind of over. We’re going to have to chalk that up for not a great season.” Instead of dwelling on his past performance, he emphasized focusing on helping his team win each game by shifting his attention to day-to-day contributions.
While it is premature to declare Betts fully back, his recent performance offers hope for both him and the Dodgers, whose lineup has struggled. His positive approach was evident during significant moments in the game, especially when he hit a single off Max Scherzer and then later connected for a home run, marking a turning point in their matchup.
As Betts continues to regain his form, he pushes his OPS back up to .680, indicating progress. While there is still work to be done, for a Dodgers team that is facing increased challenges, Betts’ improvement is a welcome sign. “Getting small wins and contributing each night, rather than chasing a season, brings a sense of freedom,” said Roberts, illustrating Betts’ growth and maturity as the season heads toward its final months.
