According to reports, Mookie Betts played 86 games in the infield during the 2023 season. The Boston Red Sox have apparently found a new Chief Baseball Officer in Craig Breslow, and Betts’ outstanding performance with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 has led to considerations about how to utilize his versatility in the upcoming 2024 season.

During the Major League Baseball’s GM meetings, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes hinted at a potential plan for Betts going forward. Instead of keeping him as the everyday right fielder for all 162 games, Los Angeles intends to play the 31-year-old more frequently at second base, as Gomes indicated. This decision is partly influenced by injuries affecting prospect Miguel Vargas’ development, prompting a shift for him from the infield and creating an opportunity for Betts to open a corner outfield spot for Vargas.

While Betts had an impressive season with the bat, finishing fourth in total hits and hitting a career-high 39 home runs in the National League, his greatest value to the Dodgers arguably came from his exceptional defensive skills. Betts’ ability to provide Gold Glove-caliber defense at multiple positions gives manager Dave Roberts the luxury of lineup flexibility.

Roberts himself praised Betts, stating that it’s hard not to consider him the Most Valuable Player. He highlighted Betts’ ability to play on the infield, which allowed Jason Heyward to play right field. Betts played 70 games at second base last season, maintaining a 99.1 fielding percentage. He also made 16 appearances at shortstop, where he had a fielding percentage of 93.5. It was Betts’ first time playing shortstop at the big league level, and he handled the challenge with ease.

Based on his performance in 2023, there’s no reason to believe that Betts won’t continue to excel in the infield in the upcoming 2024 season.