Dodgers Mookie Betts is back this time, for real

SAN DIEGO – Something good is about to happen.Mookie Betts feels it.His manager feels it.The people in the stands feel it.There are numbers that indicate Betts is back, and we’ll get to those later in this column.But the most convincing evidence of his offensive resurgence is the feeling he inspires these days when he steps into the batter’s box — specifically, that something good is about to happen.This was the feeling he used to evoke in his first 3-and-half seasons with the Dodgers.This was the feeling that has been missing since he broke his hand in the middle of the 2024 season.“I think we’re in a good spot,” Betts told The California Post.“We’re seeing the ball well and we’re seeing well and I feel like we’re taking good swings.”Betts homered in his third consecutive game on Saturday night, his three-run blast capping a nine-run sixth inning in the Dodgers’ 15–3 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.Not every at-bat ends like that, of course.

Baseball isn’t that kind of sport.But that’s not the point.The point is that he’s becoming an offensive presence again, and that alone can transform the Dodgers’ lineup.Betts is reluctant to say anything about rediscovering his old self and understandably so.He’s endured several false starts this season.

There were a number of times he thought he found his swing, only to find himself back to square one shortly after.Only this time, he’s felt like himself for more than one at-bat or one game — or even one week. Over his last 13 games, he’s batting .385 with five home runs. When Betts was playing at All-Star levels, manager Dave Roberts used to say that as Betts went, the Dodgers went.That could be the case again.The Dodgers’ record during Betts’ 13-game hot streak: 9–4.Betts said he’s regaining the feel that he lost over the last couple of seasons.Two years ago, he broke his left hand in the middle of the season and went from being a most valuable player can...