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By Aaliyan Mohammed
Contributing Sports Writer
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The Los Angeles Dodgers were walked off by the Colorado Rockies on Monday night in a game that featured multiple mistakes from Teoscar Hernández in right field.
Hernández threw to the wrong base in the third inning, allowing a run to score, and in the ninth inning, he dropped a ball that ended up being a double by Ezequiel Tovar, who came around to score the winning run.
Manager Dave Roberts was critical of Hernández's play in right field after the game, saying he needs to "get better out there," per the Los Angeles Times' Kevin Baxter.
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The Dodgers outfield has primarily been Hernández, Andy Pages and Michael Conforto. However, their best defensive outfielder has been playing shortstop. Mookie Betts is a six-time Gold Glove winner in right field and could easily fix the Dodgers' outfield defense.
Baxter reported that Betts met with Roberts and the president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, after the loss, and suggested that the timing of the meeting was no coincidence. Betts may be looking to get back into the outfield.
"The Betts conversation afterward was private," wrote Baxter. "But the circumstances that led to it were not. Clearly the bullpen is not the Dodgers' only problem."
Betts has struggled offensively, and perhaps a move back to his original position could help. Betts played shortstop last season, but ended up back in right field. This year, he has made all of his starts at shortstop.
Not only would Betts' playing in the outfield help the Dodgers' defense, it could lengthen the lineup. Conforto has been the primary left fielder, with Alex Call seeing some time, too. Betts joining the outfield group would be an upgrade over both of them.
Meanwhile, in the infield, the Dodgers could use Hyeseong Kim at second base when he returns and allow Miguel Rojas or Alex Freeland to play shortstop. When Tommy Edman returns, Kim and Edman could take over the middle of the infield regularly. Kiké Hernández could also be back soon, giving the Dodgers more infield options if Betts is in right field.
The Dodgers could move Hernández to left field to get Betts back into right field. It may be what Betts met with Roberts and Friedman about, and it's hard to think otherwise after how the game unfolded.
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