Mookie Betts Is Locked In: Why the Dodgers’ Star Feels Ready for 2026
LOS ANGELES - Mookie Betts didn’t need a warm-up lap at DodgerFest. He showed up loose, confident, and already in midseason mindset. With spring training just around the corner, the Dodgers’ star made it clear: he’s not just hoping for a bounce-back year - he’s preparing for it with purpose.
“Great. I feel great,” Betts said with a smile when asked how he’s feeling heading into 2026.
“Ready to go.” That readiness isn’t just about physical shape or offseason workouts - it’s about clarity.
Betts knows what’s ahead, knows the grind, and more importantly, knows himself.
Shortstop, Year Two: From Learning Curve to Comfort Zone
One of the biggest shifts in Betts’ world last year was his move to shortstop - a position that demands instincts, agility, and leadership. In 2025, it was a crash course. In 2026, it’s a comfort zone.
“Now it’s kind of a normal spring,” Betts said. “It’s not something I’m trying to learn.”
That alone changes the equation. Instead of splitting focus between mastering a new position and getting his swing right, Betts can now lean into the rhythm of a typical preseason.
He’s not figuring out where to stand or how to turn a double play. He’s refining, not reinventing.
Having Miguel Rojas and infield coach Chris Woodward in his corner helps too. “The game is all here,” Betts said. “So we should be okay.”
Rewiring the Swing - and the Mindset
When the conversation turned to his offense, Betts didn’t start rattling off launch angles or hand positions. He talked about rhythm.
Timing. Trust.
“Just kind of rewiring my body to do what I wanted to do,” he said. “Even though it was down last year before I got sick, I was probably having one of the best springs I’ve ever had.”
It’s not about overhauling mechanics - it’s about reconnecting to the patterns that made him one of the most dynamic hitters in the game. “The motor patterns,” he explained. “I think kind of got out of whack early on, and once I got out of whack early, it was just kind of like a snowball effect.”
Now, with a more typical offseason under his belt, Betts is focused on stacking wins - small ones, daily ones. “Stack positive days over and over,” he said. “Now we’re in a really good spot.”
And in true Betts fashion, he’s not chasing a stat line. “Not even trying to have a good year this year,” he said.
“Just play, have fun. We’ll get there whenever we get there.”
The Offseason: Normal, Finally
Last year’s offseason was anything but standard - Betts was diving headfirst into shortstop, grinding through reps just to get comfortable. This time around? “It’s just been a normal offseason,” he said.
He’s still been taking ground balls, of course, but with a smarter pace. “Nothing to the magnitude that I was last year,” he said. “I’ll save a little energy for the season.”
That’s a key point. Betts is a relentless worker, and he knows when to hit the gas.
“You know how hard I work,” he said. “So I’m sure once we get to spring, I’ll be taking a thousand ground balls.
At least I have some energy.”
Longevity at Short? Betts Isn’t Worried
Asked whether he can stick at shortstop long-term, Betts didn’t hesitate. “I’m 100% sure I’ll be able to,” he said. His confidence isn’t rooted in size or raw power - it’s in mobility, agility, and the work he puts in behind the scenes.
“I keep my body in really good shape,” he said. “As I age, I’ll slow down, but I’ll be fine. I work out and do everything it takes to be successful, be able to move.”
And of course, staying agile isn’t just about baseball. “Plus I got to be able to bowl and golf and everything else,” he added with a grin.
Eyes on the Gold (Glove)
Betts was a Gold Glove finalist last season at shortstop - a remarkable feat for someone still relatively new to the position. And yes, he wants more.
“Absolutely,” he said when asked if winning one is the goal. “It’s win every year.
Like I said, we got Miggy and Woody. We got the guys back.
We got close last year, so we should be able to get close this year as well.”
Life Without Kershaw - A New Chapter
For the first time in his Dodgers tenure, Betts will walk into a clubhouse without Clayton Kershaw there every day. That’s going to feel different.
“It’s going to be really weird,” he admitted. “My first time, all of our first times not seeing him in there. But I’m sure he’ll be around.”
Betts wants Kershaw to enjoy retirement - but he also hopes the Dodgers legend doesn’t stay away too long. “I really want him to enjoy it, but I really want him to come see the boys as well,” he said. “It’ll be weird, but everything will be okay.”
The Dodgers’ Promise: Built to Win
Betts also touched on the Dodgers’ front office and the steady stream of talent that continues to flow into Chavez Ravine. For him, it’s not a surprise - it’s a promise kept.
“I remember when I first signed, I talked to them, and they promised that they keep wanting to win, and they’ve stuck to their word,” he said.
He sees it in the clubhouse every day - the culture, the chemistry, the shared commitment. “We’re signing the right guys that want to win, guys that care about culture, care about one another,” he said.
“There’s love everywhere. There’s no disconnect anywhere.
Everybody’s on the same page.”
Team First, Always
When asked if his desire to stay at shortstop is about personal success, Betts brought it right back to the team. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” he said. “Coming to short helped get another ring, so if I need to move somewhere else, it is what it is.”
His mindset is simple: be the best at whatever position helps the Dodgers win. “I just know that if I can continue to do what I’ve been doing, it kind of maximizes our chances of bringing in more guys and winning,” he said.
“I understand that. I embrace that.”
Bottom line: Mookie Betts is healthy, locked in, and ready to lead. He’s not chasing numbers - he’s chasing wins. And if his mindset heading into 2026 is any indication, the Dodgers are in very good hands.