“The sky is the limit for a guy like Mookie.” A former Padres player said that about Dodgers star Mookie Betts. But now the shortstop is putting up numbers that fall in the category of career lows. Just take the example of the Dodgers’ recent loss against the Cardinals (2-3). Betts went 0-4 and flew out twice. And that hitless night dropped the 32-year-old’s batting average to .231 and his on-base percentage to .302. Further, he’s slugging .355 and his OPS is a woeful .657 — career lows, indeed. And with that comes heavy criticism. But the familiar voice that believed in Betts has come back, calling for a different look at his problems.
At the start of the 2025 campaign, Mookie Betts switched from right field, where he had played for a long time, to shortstop full-time. This was the next step in his long and successful career. And emphasizing exactly this point, the veteran has now spoken up, making a plea.
The veteran is none other than Cameron Maybin, a former Padres outfielder, who went on Foul Territory and said, “Put the man back in right field.” Maybin said that Betts can really “be relaxed,” “be chill,” and go make plays in the grass, which is where he feels most at ease. “Mookie Betts is a special type of talent. Yes, he can play short, but I think his best position is out there in the grass. The last line of defense, making plays like he does best. Let somebody else play short and let him relax and just worry about hitting.”
“Let him relax and just worry about hitting.”
It’s time for the Dodgers to put Mookie Betts back in right field, says @CameronMaybin. pic.twitter.com/ziuGkGCpO7
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) August 5, 2025
Betts made a name for himself in right field, winning six Gold Gloves. He played 98 games in right field in 2024 and had a .370 OBP and a wRC+ of 141 and hit 15 homers. The comfort in the outfield seemed to directly lead to great offensive performance. But things have changed since he started playing shortstop.
Fast-forward to 2025, and the picture couldn’t be more different. Betts is struggling significantly, hitting just .236/.308/.361 with 11 home runs. His recent performance is even worse, recording a career-low .149 batting average and a .413 OPS over the last 19 games, sparking talks of moving him down the order. According to SI, this season’s stats are the worst of his career: a .236 batting average,.669 OPS, and a WAR of 1.9, well below his typical standards.
Even though his slump is evident, manager Dave Roberts is still all in support of his player. He stated, “I’m going to continue to believe in him and trust that he’s the best option,” and he won’t move Betts down the order any further than the No. 2 spot. Roberts believes Betts can control the plate and produce runs, as the Dodgers rely on him to steady the offense without a solid backup at shortstop.
Amid all the chatter about the position change, Mookie Betts gave a glimpse of his bat in the game against the Cardinals, and for a brief period, it did act as a relief.
Mookie Betts’ moment: Ending slump with a double
On Tuesday, Mookie Betts finally broke his 0-for-22 streak with a double to start the third inning against the Cardinals. The shot into the outfield grass made the crowd at Dodger Stadium go wild, which was something the players and spectators really needed.
That hit set the mood for a wild night. Max Muncy and Teoscar Hernandez both hit two home runs and drove in four runs each. Shohei Ohtani got things going early. The Dodgers won easily, 12–6, with 17 hits and a lot of runs. Betts got two additional singles and a walk, making it one of his first multi-hit outings in weeks.
Afterwards, Betts was delightfully down to earth in the clubhouse. “It’s good to get results. Just kind of relearning going back to basics. And it worked today, so we will see tomorrow.” His humility made it clear that this wasn’t just a one-time thing. He’s changing the way he does things.
This moment fits well into the larger story: a Gold-Glove-level defender who is playing shortstop and going through a slump that even outside voices are doubting. Tuesday night gave a taste of his former rhythm, which is a reminder that when Betts is on a roll, nothing can stop him.
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