Mookie Betts

As Mookie Betts enters his age-30 season, there is some expected decline in a few areas (fly ball rate increased but led to a lower ground ball EV/BABIP). Still, his elite on-base skills continue to increase his value in fantasy leagues, especially considering that he bats leadoff in one of the most explosive lineups in baseball. He played in 142 games in 2022, batting first in the lineup in all of them. It is difficult to predict what effect the new running rules will have on his SB total, but fantasy managers can safely count on 10-15 in this area. However, his 30+ HR, 100+ runs, and solid advanced metrics will contribute across the board, and he is worthy of a late first-round pick. The fact that Dave Roberts might deploy him enough at 2B to give him that eligibility is just icing.

Mookie Betts to play 40 games at second base in 2023

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he envisions Mookie Betts playing 40 games at second base and 110 in the outfield in 2023.

Fantasy Impact

With Gavin Lux's season-ending ACL injury, an opportunity opened for Betts to get some reps at second base, his natural position prior to entering the big leagues. Betts has logged 228 career innings at the keystone but 122 of those frames came in his 2014 rookie season before being moved to the outfield. Betts has two home runs in 11 at-bats this spring after slugging 35 long balls alongside 12 steals and an .873 OPS across 142 games in the 2022 campaign.