Throughout 2025, we saw a never-before-seen version of Mookie Betts. The Los Angeles Dodgers star – whose career already screams Hall of Fame – had accustomed fans to being a constant offensive threat at the plate, but that changed dramatically, sparking debate for much of the season.
This dip in performance might have an explanation, especially considering the health issues he faced that caused him to lose at least 20 pounds right before the season started.
The weight loss directly impacted his overall strength, putting him at a disadvantage from the very beginning and disrupting his usual routine heading into Opening Day.
On the other hand, it’s no secret that at 33 years old (turned in October), Betts is in a more advanced stage of his MLB career – so expecting him to hit .300 consistently might be unrealistic. Playing shortstop is a relentless defensive demand, especially at the MLB level.
So, will Mookie Betts never be the same again?
It’s not surprising that he hit just .258 – his career-low batting average – with 20 home runs and a .732 OPS, also the lowest of his career.
That’s why Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic analyzed Betts’ situation, noting that there is no major concern within the Dodgers organization and that a full and healthy spring training could be crucial for his 2026 performance.
“The Dodgers are essentially banking on it being a one-year downswing caused by 1) an offseason where his usual swing work was replaced by a shortstop boot camp and 2) a stomach virus that sapped his strength right at Opening Day. The reality is, it’s hard to completely parse out blame for what happened with Betts’ 2025 season. But the hope is that a normal offseason for him – where the work at shortstop won’t have to be as extreme – will set him up for offensive improvement.”
Ardaya also pointed out that playing elite-level shortstop could affect Betts’ offensive production, though the team trusts his bat will rebound closer to its former dominance.
“He’s turned himself into an elite defensive shortstop, which lowers what the Dodgers really need from him offensively to be a productive player – he produced more Baseball Reference WAR in 2025 than he did in 2024 – but he won’t stick at the position forever, and the team would love to get more juice out of his bat again.”
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