Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts has played just 16 career games at shortstop.
That number appears likely to grow very soon.
Betts will move to shortstop and Gavin Lux will take over at second base, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Friday afternoon.
Roberts characterized the move oxymoronically as “permanent, for now.”
The Boston Red Sox originally drafted Betts as a shortstop out of John Overton High School in Oak Hill, Tenn. in June 2011. After a protracted stint at second base, Betts eventually migrated to the outfield, where he has played 1,172 career games.
Lux, on the other hand, was also drafted as a shortstop out of Indian Trail Academy in Kenosha, Wis. in 2016. He has struggled defensively at the position in recent weeks during spring training, leading Roberts to make the change.
#Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called Mookie Betts’ move to shortstop “permanent, for now.” Gavin Lux will get all of his reps at second base moving forward.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) March 8, 2024
Nomadic since debuting in 2019, Lux—who missed all of 2023 with a torn ACL—has played seven different positions in the major leagues.
Los Angeles opens its season on March 20 against the San Diego Padres in Seoul.
