After Monday’s 4-3 walk-off loss to the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts met with manager Dave Roberts and president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. The private nature of the conversation sparked speculation, particularly given the struggles of right fielder Teoscar Hernandez, whose defensive lapses contributed to the game-ending rally.
However, Betts and the team were quick to clarify that the meeting was routine and unrelated to defensive alignments. Betts told reporters, including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic, that he simply stopped by Roberts’ office to discuss his swing. “I popped in to reiterate how good I feel about my swing,” Betts said.
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Roberts echoed that sentiment, downplaying any broader implications. “Mookie pops into my office all the time,” he said. “We were just talking about his swing. I wanted him to check in with me about where he’s at, certain checkpoints as we get through the season, and that was a check-in. I hope too much wasn’t made of that.”
The timing of the meeting inevitably drew attention, given Hernandez’s struggles in right field. The outfielder misplayed multiple balls, including a third-inning play that allowed a runner to advance from first to third and ultimately set up the walk-off hit. Hernandez currently ranks in the fifth percentile for fielding run value, per Baseball Savant, prompting questions about whether Betts might be moved back to right field.
Roberts was clear that no such discussions had taken place. “We haven’t talked to Mookie about right field at all this season,” he said. “He’s an above-average defender at shortstop, and that’s where he’s staying.” The manager also emphasized Hernandez’s need for improvement while acknowledging the effort he has shown. “He’s got to get better out there. It’s just one of those things that the defense is a big part of postseason baseball and winning baseball,” Roberts said.
Betts, meanwhile, appears to be hitting his stride offensively. Over his last 12 games, he has slashed .333 with two home runs, nine RBIs, and an OPS of .889, suggesting his recent check-in was a timely opportunity to ensure he stays on track for the stretch run.