PHOENIX —
As most of his teammates trickled back into the clubhouse following a morning practice at Camelback Ranch last week, Mookie Betts remained planted on the infield dirt of Field 2 at the Dodgers’ spring training facility.
Then, for several minutes, he took grounder after grounder after grounder from the left side of the diamond — the latest step in his rigorous process to transition to a new defensive position.
It had only been a couple days since the former Gold Glove right fielder, who was already preparing to play second base full-time this season, was informed that he would instead be taking over as the Dodgers’ starting shortstop to begin the upcoming campaign.