February 17, 2026

Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers played exclusively at shortstop for a whole season for the first time in 2025. The 33-year-old veteran played in 150 games after missing the start of the season due to an illness. Last year, Betts hit 20 home runs with 82 RBI, eight steals, a career-low 10.3 K%, and posted a .258/.326/.406 slash line. He logged 589 at-bats, his most since 2019. Betts struggled on offense through most of the season, as evidenced by a .258 BABIP and .330 xWOBA, both of which were career lows. Betts blamed his disappointing play in the first half on recovering from a 2024 hand injury. The Dodgers' shortstop regained better form after the All-Star break, highlighted by a strong September where he recorded a .307 batting average, 31 hits, 23 RBI, six home runs, and 13 runs scored. The former MVP will likely be the No. 3 hitter for LA, giving him a solid statistical floor worthy of an early fifth-round pick in NFBC drafts. ATC Projections on RotoBaller support an improved stat line; Betts is projected to finish with 22 home runs, 80 RBI, and a triple slash of .268/.349/.451 in 2026. Betts' NFBC ADP is 49, and RotoBaller.com ranks Betts at 50th overall, meaning he is appropriately ranked, as the days of being a fantasy superstar are now in the past. Fantasy players can trust that Betts might pick up his better form from the end of 2025, as he will be healthy to open the season.--Sean Engel - RotoBaller