One of the first questions manager Dave Roberts faced after the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani was how he would construct the lineup.
That primarily applied to Freddie Freeman, who hit second in the Dodgers’ order throughout much of the 2023 season. Freeman himself joked with Roberts during Spring Training about wanting to know the Dodgers lineup order. Roberts at the time said he planned to speak with all three players to get their input before making a decision.
It wound up being Mookie Betts remaining the leadoff hitter, followed by Ohtani hitting second and Freeman in the three-hole. Change came about in June when Betts suffered a fractured left hand as a result of being hit by a pitch.
Betts remains on the mend from the injury and is tracking to return within the next week or so. Ohtani was elevated into the leadoff spot in Betts’ absence and went on a torrid stretch when that began.
The two-way star being moved to the top of the Dodgers’ lineup also included a period where Will Smith hit second in order to split left-handed hitters Ohtani and Freeman.
Smith has endured recent struggles, which has led to Teoscar Hernández receiving opportunities to hit behind Ohtani. That line of thinking to split Ohtani and Freeman is going to continue once Betts returns.
Ohtani replaces Betts as Dodgers leadoff hitter
While revealing that Betts was going to remain the starting shortstop, Roberts also said Ohtani is sticking in the leadoff spot of the Dodgers lineup.
“I talked to him, yeah, I talked to him,” Roberts said of having a discussion with Betts about the change. “I think that it’s hard to argue Shohei starting the game off in the one. It breaks up Freddie and Mookie. And I like the idea that those two guys are going to potentially get the most at-bats.”
Betts historically has preferred to be the leadoff hitter but said this past spring that no longer was a concern of his. He reiterated that stance when recently discussing the possibility of Ohtani taking over as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter.
“Shohei belongs wherever the hell he wants to go,” Betts said in July. “Wherever he wants to go, he can be there. Once he decides what he wants to do, I’ll get in where I fit in.”
Entering play Tuesday night, Ohtani was batting .299/.414/.682 with 11 doubles, 15 home runs, 35 RBI, 17 stolen bases, a .445 wOBA and 195 wRC+ in 41 games as the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter this season.
In 69 games when penciled in second in the order, Ohtani has hit .314/.387/.602 with 18 doubles, 19 homers, 46 RBI, 15 stolen bases, .417 wOBA and 175 wRC+.
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