Mookie Betts isn’t one to sugarcoat things-especially when it comes to his own performance. And after a 2025 season that didn’t live up to his usual elite standards, the Dodgers’ star is owning it, recalibrating, and coming into 2026 with a clear mission: get back to being Mookie Betts.
Last year, Betts slashed .258/.326/.406 with 23 doubles, 20 home runs, and 82 RBI over 150 games. For most players, that’s a solid year.
But for Betts-a former MVP, multiple-time All-Star, and centerpiece of the Dodgers’ lineup-it was a step back. He never quite found his rhythm in the first half, showed flashes of his old self post-All-Star break, but then faded again in the postseason when the team needed him most.
That didn’t sit well with him.
“Just kind of rewiring my body to do what I wanted it to do,” Betts said recently, reflecting on his offseason approach. “Even though it was down last year, before I got sick, I was probably having one of the best springs I’ve ever had. So I just got to get back to rewiring and trusting myself.”
It’s a telling quote-not just because of the physical work he’s put in, but because of the mental reset. Betts isn’t letting last year’s numbers weigh him down.
He’s not chasing redemption or trying to force greatness. He’s focused on playing freely, trusting the process, and letting the results follow.
“I’m really not worrying about having a bad year last year,” he added. “Just putting that out of my mind and not even trying to have a good year this year.
It’s really just playing. Just play, have fun, and we’ll get there whenever we get there.”
That mindset shift is as important as any tweak to his swing mechanics. But make no mistake-he’s been grinding on the fundamentals, too. Betts mentioned working on everything from his swing to his movement patterns, essentially rebuilding the foundation of his game.
“More just rewiring my mechanics, my brain, the motor patterns,” he said. “I think it kind of got out of whack early on, and once I got out of whack early, it was just like a snowball effect.
“And so now I’ve gotten to put the training wheels on, take my time, and really stack positive days. I stacked positive days over and over, and now we’re in a really good spot.”
That’s the kind of work ethic and self-awareness that’s made Betts a franchise cornerstone in Los Angeles. And it’s why Dodgers manager Dave Roberts remains confident that a bounce-back season is coming. With Betts now entrenched as the team’s everyday shortstop, the pieces are in place for a resurgence.
And while the 2026 season is front and center, Betts is also thinking long-term. He revealed that he plans to retire after the 2032 season-when his current contract with the Dodgers runs out. That gives fans seven more seasons to watch one of the most dynamic, cerebral, and consistent players of his generation do his thing.
For now, though, the focus is on the present. Betts has hit the reset button, both physically and mentally. And if his offseason work is any indication, the Dodgers’ leadoff man could be primed for a major return to form.