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Anthony Gharib, ESPN
Mookie Betts will play in less familiar territory this season as the Los Angeles Dodgers face the San Diego Padres in South Korea on Wednesday (6:05 a.m. ET on ESPN).
Earlier in spring training, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced that Betts, who has primarily appeared in the outfield throughout his career, will switch to shortstop. Roberts said the move is “permanent, for now.”
Betts spent time between playing outfield, shortstop and second base last season — he started 12 games at shortstop. He also started 13 games at the position in the minor leagues.
Only one player in MLB history has started 100 games at shortstop in a season after winning a Gold Glove in the outfield, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Tom Tresh did in 1968 for the New York Yankees. Betts is a six-time Gold Glove winner as an outfielder.
Betts can also become the fifth player in the expansion era (since 1961) to primarily play shortstop in a season for the first time in his career after turning 30 years old, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Here’s a look at how the other four fared.
Stats: 81 starts, 107 games played
The current New York Mets shortstop spent most of his career playing at second and third base. Last season with the Miami Marlins, 33-year-old Wendle had 218 assists and 46 double plays, both the second-most of his career. However, he had a career-low .212 batting average with 20 RBIs and two home runs.
Jamey Carroll, 2010
Stats: 64 starts, 69 games played
Similar to Wendle, Carroll had rotated from second and third base during his career. Then with the Dodgers, when they were without a shortstop in 2010, he became part of the rotation.
His 64 starts at the position that season are the highest of his career. He split time with Rafael Furcal, who made 91 starts in 93 appearances at shortstop.
Carroll had 195 assists, 32 double plays and just four errors. He made 90 starts the rest of his career, but never at the rate of 2010.
Nick Green, 2009
Stats: 74 starts, 81 games played
At 30 years old, Green just makes the cut. After struggling to find his way in the majors, the Boston Red Sox used Green as their primary shortstop in 2009.
He had 74 starts and 81 games at the position, which were both career-highs. Green had 221 assists — the second-most on the team — and 43 double plays — the third-most. He also batted .236 and had career-highs in home runs (6) and RBIs (35).
He was cut by the Dodgers the next season, opening the shortstop spot for Carroll.
Mike Lansing, 2001
Stats: 71 starts, 76 games played
In the final season of his MLB career, Lansing had a strong year at a position he’d appeared at just 67 times before.
He had 172 assists and 37 double plays, both high marks of his time at shortstop. He also batted .301, the highest since the 1998 season, with 43 RBIs and eight home runs.
Tom Tresh, 1968
Stats: 116 starts, 119 games played
Of all the players to move to shortstop primarily, Tresh is the most unique.
He won Rookie of the Year in 1962 as the Yankees main shortstop. He shifted to the outfield from 1963 to 1967, where he won a Gold Glove in 1965.
Tresh eventually returned back to his old position. He had a career high 409 assists and 70 double plays, both the second-highest on the team, but batted a career-low .195.