Manager Dave Roberts revealed Thursday what the top of the Los Angeles Dodgers batting order will look like in 2025:
- Shohei Ohtani
- Mookie Betts
- Freddie Freeman
- Teoscar Hernández
Despite Betts being the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter to start last season, Ohtani is going to be the guy this year.
The thinking?
“I just think that it protects Mookie a little bit,” Roberts said. “I think it just makes the most sense and hardest to navigate. Just give Shohei five at-bats a night.”
Betts was the Dodgers’ leadoff hitter for the first two-plus months of the season until he suffered a fractured hand. Ohtani then took the reins, and wouldn’t relinquish it for the remainder of the season.
When Betts returned, he was the Dodgers’ No. 2 hitter.
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As for the rest of the lineup, Roberts said the Dodgers will “figure it out from there.”
Speculating what the rest of the Dodgers lineup could look like, Max Muncy will likely be in the No. 5 hole, with Will Smith batting sixth, continuing the left-right theme. Then, Michael Conforto and Tommy Edman will likely make up the seven and eight spots, with Hyeseong Kim batting ninth.