Mookie Betts To Serve As Leadoff Hitter In 2023
2 years agoLos Angeles Dodgers outfielder/second baseman Mookie Betts will serve as the club's leadoff hitter for 2023, according to skipper Dave Roberts. Roberts noted that there were discussions surrounding the lefty-swinging Gavin Lux (knee) leading off against certain right-hander pitchers, but with Lux out for the season with an ACL tear, it will be Betts as the full-time leadoff man. The 30-year-old Betts, who will start approximately 20 games at second base this season, hit .269 with 35 home runs, 12 stolen bases and an .873 OPS across 142 games in the 2022 campaign. The 2018 AL MVP's bat has been at least 30% above league average in each of the last five seasons, per wRC+, and gains significant value as the leadoff hitter in an offense that led all of baseball with 847 runs scored a season ago. He should certainly be one of the first outfielders off the board on draft day.
Source: David Vassegh on Twitter
Source: David Vassegh on Twitter