There’s a divide brewing in Los Angeles, one that stats alone can’t capture. While Shohei Ohtani arrived as the $700 million superstar, it’s Mookie Betts who’s been grinding to keep the Dodgers afloat.
Ohtani is still an elite hitter, no doubt, but he hasn’t pitched since August 2023 due to his second elbow surgery. Meanwhile, Betts has shifted from right field to shortstop, baseball’s most demanding defensive position, not for glory, but for the team.
The Dodgers didn’t just pay for Ohtani’s bat, they banked on his two-way dominance. While he’s slugging his way through the season (his 20 homers prove that), the absence on the mound has created pressure. As ESPN’s Julian McWilliams bluntly put it on Baseball Isn’t Boring,
“Ohtani can’t even freaking pitch.”
Mookie’s Move to Shortstop Is More Than a Position Change
Betts’ decision to take over shortstop isn’t about versatility, it’s about leadership. And it’s not just a defensive switch, it’s a physical and mental burden.
“Your legs are dead… you’re engaged in every pitch,” McWilliams noted.
Once a Gold Glove right fielder, Betts is now manning a position he hadn’t played regularly since high school, sacrificing personal performance to stabilize the infield. On his podcast, On Base with Mookie Betts, he admitted to teammate Kiké Hernández,
“You’re a huge reason why I’m playing short. I wanted you to come back.”
Shohei Ohtani Answers Critics with Power
Just days after McWilliams’ criticism, Ohtani responded the best way he knows how—by launching bombs. His 20th home run of the season came in a blast against the Guardians, making him the first player in MLB to hit that mark in 2025.
It also put him in rare company, only Gil Hodges and Cody Bellinger reached that milestone in fewer than 55 games for the Dodgers. No rebuttal needed. No quote. Just raw power.
At 32, Mookie Betts is defying age and expectation, doing the “absurd” to keep the Dodgers alive. Meanwhile, Ohtani continues to electrify with his bat, even as his absence on the mound lingers.
Talent vs. presence. Flash vs. sacrifice. The Dodgers have both, but only time will tell which legacy truly defines this era for the Dodgers.
