Mookie Betts Rebounds After Injury, Adjusts Swing for MLB Success

LOS ANGELES, CA — Mookie Betts struggled to find his swing at the start of the season, posting a .254 batting average. However, after missing four games due to a fractured toe, he has returned to form with a .351 average and .901 OPS in his last nine games.

“Garbage,” Betts said of his early performance. “I believe I can be better than that.” The time off allowed him to analyze his swing using video footage instead of focusing on batting practice.

Hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc stated that they identified techniques Betts needed to adjust to improve his swing. “There are always little things that pop up,” he said. “It was kind of the stuff that’s normal for him.”

Betts attributed his early difficulties to developing “bad habits” due to a virus he contracted in spring training, which left him feeling weak at the plate. “I had to figure out how to attack them,” he explained.

Van Scoyoc emphasized the need for Betts to ensure that his hips initiate his swing to improve performance. Despite the pressure surrounding his performance, Betts remains focused on his process and hard work.

“The game is moving. If you don’t keep moving with it, you’ll get left behind,” he said, reflecting on the doubts he faced during his slump. “I don’t have a superpower to fall back on. It has to be my process.”

Van Scoyoc believes Betts may be selling himself short regarding his abilities, detailing how the outfielder efficiently makes contact and hits the ball at good angles. “He got behind the 8-ball early with the sickness,” Van Scoyoc said.

Betts’ recent performances have provided a glimpse of the player he knows he can be, as he shoots for continued improvement. He currently holds a .269 average and .766 OPS, still lower than his career numbers.

“It’s just continuing to stack positive days,” he stated, emphasizing the importance of believing in his process. As he heads into future games, both Betts and his coaches look forward to seeing him maintain momentum and further enhance his performance.