Mookie Betts Loves Baseball’s New Changes But Wants One Thing Gone

Baseball Is in a Great Spot (According to Mookie Betts)

Mookie Betts is a star player for the Los Angeles Dodgers (a baseball team). He thinks baseball is doing really well right now.

Over the last few years, the game added some new things:

• A pitch clock (a timer that makes pitchers throw faster)
• Enlarged bases (bigger squares players run to)
• ABS (a system that helps call balls and strikes automatically)

Because of these changes:

• Games go by much faster
• There is more speed in the game
• Fans are more excited than they were even five years ago

Important Point: Betts believes baseball is healthier and more fun to watch because of these new rules.

The One Thing Betts Wants to Disappear

Even though Betts likes a lot of the changes, there is one part of the game he wants to end.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated (a sports magazine) on behalf of Corona (a drink brand), Betts said:

“Once position players come in (to pitch), just call the game. That’s pretty much it. Once you’re down 10 [runs] and the position player comes in, just call it a day.”

A position player is someone who normally plays another spot like outfield or catcher, not a regular pitcher.

What Is a Position Player Pitching?

Long ago, it was very rare for a non-pitcher to throw in a game. When it happened, it was a funny, special moment:

• The player would throw super slow pitches (about 65 mph, which is gentle for baseball)
• They would face the best hitters
• Sometimes they did just fine and escaped without getting hurt on the scoreboard

Some fun examples over the years:

• In 2021, Anthony Rizzo struck out his friend Freddie Freeman with a big smile
• Brett Phillips ran full speed from the bullpen (where pitchers warm up) and threw in a silly way
• Willians Astudillo, a short and heavy player, got three batters out in a row while throwing “fastballs” at only 46 mph

Why It Became a Problem

Managers (the coaches in charge) started using position players to pitch during blowouts (games where one team is winning by a lot). This saved their real pitchers from getting tired.

MLB (Major League Baseball, the big league) shared these numbers:

• 2008: only 3 times a position player pitched
• 2019: 90 times
• 2022: 132 times (the most ever)

The Rules MLB Made

Before the 2023 season, MLB changed the rules so position players could only pitch if:

1. The game goes into extra innings (more turns after the normal 9)
2. Their team is losing by at least 8 runs at any time
3. Their team is winning by at least 10 runs in the 9th inning

The year before, they could pitch if the score gap was at least 6 runs at any time.

These rules lowered the numbers for a while, but in 2025 it jumped back to 131 times. Halfway through the 2026 season:

• 83 relief appearances by position players
• 39 different players did this
• Brett Sullivan (a Rockies catcher) leads with 6 innings over 5 games, all in big losses

Betts Really Does Not Like It

Betts is not a fan. This season he faced a position player only once:

• Against Tyler Callihan (Pirates utilityman) in a 12–3 Dodgers win on June 9
• Betts hit a fly ball out to center field

He told SI:

“It’s a lose-lose. You get a hit, you’re supposed to. But it’s so hard to get a hit. And then if you get out, ah, you got out by a position player. I’d rather just go home at that point.”

Where the Dodgers Stand and Betts Off the Field

Going into the All-Star break (a mid-season pause):

• The Dodgers have the best record in baseball: 61 wins, 36 losses
• They lead the Diamondbacks by 11.5 games
• They look set to win their division (group) for the 5th straight year

Betts’s hitting is a bit slow this year:

• Batting average .235 (gets a hit about 1 in 4 times)
• 11 home runs in 60 games
• His OPS+ is 95 (5 below average), but he has time to improve

Off the field, Betts worked with Corona to launch the Beach Connect Series:

• Limited-edition jerseys co-designed by MLB stars
• Stars include Betts, Jazz Chisholm Jr., Pete Crow-Armstrong, Ronald Acuna Jr, Jeremy Pena, and Cristopher Sanchez

Betts’s “La Playa” jersey has:

• A golf course across the chest
• A bowling pin patch on the arm

Fans can try to win one at CoronaUSA.com.

Betts said bowling and golf keep him in a chill beach mood. After designing jerseys, his favorite MLB jerseys are:

• Dodgers
• Red Sox
• Yankees
• White Sox
• Padres

But only if those teams keep position players off the mound!

Summary

Mookie Betts thinks baseball is in a great place thanks to new rules like the pitch clock and bigger bases. However, he wants teams to stop using position players to pitch, especially in blowouts, and even suggested ending the game when that happens. Position player pitching used to be rare and fun, but became common, got limited by rules, and is rising again. Betts and the Dodgers are doing great this season, and off the field he is designing beach-themed jerseys with Corona.

FAQ

What is a position player?
A player who normally plays a non-pitching role like catching or outfield, but sometimes throws in a game.

Why does Mookie Betts want position players to stop pitching?
He feels it is a “lose-lose” for hitters and would rather the game end if a position player enters when a team is down by 10 runs.

What changes did MLB make to limit this?
They ruled position players can only pitch in extra innings, if trailing by 8+, or winning by 10+ in the 9th.

Are position players pitching less now?
After rules cut the numbers, it went back up to 131 in 2025 and 83 by mid-2026.

What fun jersey did Betts make with Corona?
A “La Playa” jersey with a golf course on the chest and a bowling pin patch on the arm.