Now in his age-33 season, Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has remained one of the team’s best overall players. His recent change to shortstop only made him more valuable defensively.
For most of his career through the 2023 season, Betts patrolled right field for the Dodgers and Boston Red Sox. In 2025, Betts made the full-time switch to shortstop, saying he wanted to help the team as much as possible.
Since the beginning of that 2025 season, Betts has been the best defensive shortstop in the game. His 24 defensive runs saved is by far the best mark, doubling second place Zach Neto’s 12. Betts even has fewer innings played than the rest of the top four (h/t FanGraphs).
There is no doubting his glove at this stage in the eight-time All-Star’s career. With this in mind, Betts recently made an announcement on Instagram. He will be launching a new glove brand called LGND very soon.
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DawIebBuqaq
Betts and his team will be holding a launch part for the occasion on Monday, July 27, in Fullerton, California. The location is approximately 30 miles from Dodger Stadium.
There is not much currently known about the brand, but there will certainly be more information available following the launch on July 27.
While Betts has been an elite defensive shortstop, his bat has taken a bit of a dip since the position change. Over the course of 2025 and 2026, Betts has appeared in 210 games, hitting 31 home runs and posting an OPS of .725.
David Banks-Imagn Images
Betts has actually spent the most time at the cleanup spot in the order this season. In 168 plate appearances there, he owns a slash line of .277/.333/.465 for a .798 OPS with 15 extra-base hits and 21 RBIs.
At the All-Star Break, the Dodgers sit at 61-36. They are first place in the National League West and hold the best record in baseball by one and a half games over the NL's Milwaukee Brewers.
