Spring Training 2026: With a regular spring, Betts sets sights on bigger ’26
by Megan Garcia
This Spring Training is different from past camps for Mookie Betts. This one is normal.
International travel is out of the equation, and he isn’t learning a new position.
This version of Betts is healthy, competitive and, most importantly, relaxed.
“I haven’t had a regular Spring in three, four years. Maybe since I’ve been a Dodger,” Betts said. “So, this being the first one, I don’t really know how it’s going to work out. I just know that being 33 now, I don’t have to hurry up and get here and be ready to play from Day One.
“So, I just have to embrace that. Not everybody is blessed to have that and being that I am one of the ones that is blessed with that opportunity, we’ll see how I can make do of it.”
Manager Dave Roberts has noticed that the veteran looks at ease this time around in camp. Therefore, it’s opening the door for new but familiar expectations.
“Mookie is all about winning. Whatever it takes to help the team,” said Roberts on Wednesday at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona. “I think that when you’re trying to learn a new position, you’re consumed by that, understandably so, which I think he has a handle on it.
“When you’re playing catch-up out of the gate with your health, that’s hard, too. I think right now, he’s in a great spot. He can just focus on maintaining, building up and helping the Dodgers win in 2026.”
The 2025 regular season started uphill for Betts. He missed the season-opening Japan Series and lost close to 20 pounds.
But after winning his fourth World Series ring (third with the Dodgers) and a Gold Glove Award finalist finish at shortstop, Betts is focusing on a simpler task in camp — playing baseball.
“That’s all you really can do — just play,” Betts said. “Obviously, I would love to get better and better, but that’s a pit that you just fall into. Sometimes, you just have to be who you are. I’m embracing who I am and understanding it.”
Roberts described last season as an offensive outlier for Betts.
He ended the season batting .258, the first time in his 12-year career that he had registered below .260. His .406 slugging percentage last season was the lowest in his career.
But now, with five weeks until Opening Day on March 26 against the Diamondbacks, there’s plenty of confidence that Betts will return to an MVP-caliber level.
“I have no doubt about it,” Roberts said. “The way he played shortstop last year, expecting him to get better, be better offensively, (that) he will be in the MVP conversation this year. But (I think) his main goal is to help us win a championship.”
Spring Training 2026: With a regular spring, Betts sets sights on bigger ‘26 was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.