3 years agoA nagging hip injury plagued Mookie Betts throughout the 2021 season, causing him to play in just 122 games, his lowest total in any full MLB season. The injury appears to have had the biggest impact on Mookie's legs, as Betts lost a staggering 1.2 ft/s on his sprint speed compared to 2020, moving him from the 87th percentile in sprint speed in 2020, to the 52nd percentile in 2021. Betts's prowess on the basepaths was noticeably diminished, as he went 10-for-15 on steal attempts and swiped just three bags after first returning from the IL in late July. The loss in speed may also explain Betts's underwhelming .264 batting average, as Betts's .276 BABIP was 32 points lower than his career mark, and far below what one would expect from a speedy, talented hitter like Betts. Betts told reporters in November that he feels healthy, and if that's the case he's about as likely a bounce back candidate as anyone. Despite his struggles, good news for Betts believers is that three fundamental skills remained strong in 2021; his power, contact, and plate discipline were all around his career norms, and he still blasted 23 home runs and posted a .223 ISO. Even if his speed or batting average don't fully recover, Betts has a built-in floor thanks to his skills at the dish and presents a safe early- to mid-teens choice with a top-five ceiling if he can approach 20 steals and a .290 BA again.--Elliott Baas - RotoBaller